Adolph W. Blaser, age 93 of Darlington, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 19th, 2022.
He was born October 8th, 1928, in Hollandale, WI, the son of Adolph Sr. and Marie (Tannler) Blaser.
After his father’s death, the family moved to his mother’s homeland in Canton Bern, Switzerland.
He attended 4th grade in Innertkirchen, Switzerland, and learned to speak Swiss/Romansh. With WWII looming, they booked return passage on one of the last passenger ships to make it safely back to America.
Adolph graduated from Hollandale High School in 1947 and worked on dairy farms milking cows by hand. At the age of 19, he enlisted in the United States Navy serving from 1948-1950. He was drafted into the Army in 1952 during the time of the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1953.
He worked at a salmon canning factory in the state of Washington and in orchards in California before accepting employment at Fairbanks Morse Defense in Beloit, WI. Adolph attended the Coyne Electric School in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating school, he worked for his favorite brother-in-law, Bob McNeill. Adolph then opened his own business, Blaser Electric, in Darlington, and was the owner and Electrical Contractor until his retirement in 1992 when his eldest son, David, took over the family business.
Adolph was united in marriage to Joyce Jacobson in 1952 until her passing in 1966. In 1972 Adolph was united in marriage to Gloria Nybroten, having celebrated 50 years together this past June.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria Blaser, and children: David Blaser of WI, Brenda (Gordon) Witwer of TX, Bryce (Terumi) Blaser of WI, Marla (Dan) Rielly of WI, and Dana (Henry) Youmans of FL; step-children: Cindy (Tom) Aebly of WI, Penny (Dan) Holum of WI, Jerry (Kathy) Nybroten of WI, LuAnn (Mark) Danielski of CO, and SueAnn (Ernie) Tina of CA; twenty grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren, a close friend/brother-in-law Robert McNeill, and beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Joyce, brother Carl Benedict Blaser, and sister Helen McNeill.
Adolph was a proud Navy and Army veteran and a member of both the American Legion and Grace Lutheran Church. He enjoyed spending time with family, fishing, traveling, playing cards, golf, bowling, and sharing memories of his Swiss heritage.
His family and friends will miss his kind, gentle soul and wonderful sense of humor.
A memorial service will be held Friday, August 26, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at Grace Lutheran Church (1302 Clay St., Darlington) with Rev. Kate Kieckhafer officiating. Burial will be in Union Grove Cemetery where military graveside rites will be accorded by Bates-O’Brien-Howe-Wiegel-Roelli American Legion Post #214 of Darlington. A visitation will be held Friday, August 26, 2022 from 9:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. at Grace Lutheran Church. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
For those who prefer, a memorial fund has been established in Adolph’s name.
