Fern E. Blasenhauer

Fern E. Blasenhauer, age 87, of Mineral City, died peacefully early Monday morning, August 21, 2006, in her home. Born at Uhrichsville, September 21, 1918, Fern was a daughter of the late Jesse and Myrtle Lint Welch. Fern graduated as valedictorian from Tuscarawas High School in 1935. A gifted caregiver, Fern worked for several years after high school as a housekeeper and babysitter for the McKinney family at Dennison. For nearly four decades, Fern provided aid and comfort to thousand of patients in the Union Hospital Emergency Department where she volunteered as a Gray Lady. On February 7, 1939, Fern married Carl Blasenhauer at Uhrichsville. Carl was an ambitious young man who took over operation of his grandfather’s business known as Blasenhauer Plumbing & Heating. Together Fern and Carl grew the business, with Fern managing the bookkeeping, and tending to the care of their two housing developments. The Blasenhauer’s have been longtime members of St. Paul’s Community Church at Mineral City. In addition to her husband of sixty-seven years, two daughters survive; Brenda (husband Kenneth) Haueter of Willard, Ohio, and Elaine (husband Nelson) Miller of Alliance, Ohio. Five grandchildren, Gregory (wife Sharry) Haueter of Toledo, David (wife Kris) Haueter of Sparta, New Jersey, Beth (husband Matthew) O’Leary of Scottsdale, Arizona, Eric (wife Cheryl) Leach of Canton, Ohio, and Ryan Leach, of Fort Worth, Texas, eight great-grandchildren, Matthew, Nathan and Andrew Haueter, Abby and Katie Haueter, Jordin O’Leary, and Erinn and Shannon Leach, and numerous nieces and nephews complete the family. Fern is preceded in death by her parents, a great-granddaughter, Emily Haueter, a brother, Glen Welch and her sister, Lois Petry Zimmerman. Friends are invited to call Wednesday, August 23, 2006 from 6PM until 9PM in the Geib Funeral Center, 5600 N. Wooster Avenue at Dover. Pastor Jon L. Johnson will lead funeral services Thursday morning, August 24, 2006 at 11AM in the St. Paul’s Community Church, 8733 First Street at Mineral City. Burial will follow in German Cemetery at Mineral City.