Jim Blazek

Jim Blazek, 69, Kelly Lake, died Wednesday evening, November 17, 2021 at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, after fighting a severe infection with a very broken heart since his beloved wife Carol died 27 days ago. He was born June 5, 1952 to Earl and Ila (Sloup) Blazek of Kelly Lake. Jim grew up at the lake and attended Oak and Kelly Lake elementary schools before going to Oconto Falls Middle School and graduating from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1971. As a young man, he served in the US Army National Guard.

On December 30, 1972 he married his high school sweetheart, his best friend, his true love, his whole world, Carol Umentum, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Klondike and the couple had two children together, Jason and Carrie. The couple lived at Kelly Lake all their married lives where they enjoyed lots of laughter and jokes with family and friends. Jim was employed by the Oconto Falls School District for over 30 years as a maintenance supervisor. He was well known for the Old Fashioneds he served as a bartender for many years at his longtime friends, Romy’s and Amy’s Holiday Inn at Kelly Lake. In retirement, Jim enjoyed working and golfing with the gang at the Parkway Golf Course. Jim loved hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed ice fishing on Kelly Lake. Jim will be fondly remembered for his love of family and friends, making them laugh, telling great stories, and passionately coaching the Brewers, Packers and Badgers from his chair in the living room. “To make a long story short”, he was a devoted grandpa to Odin and Alec of whom he was so proud.

Survivors are his two children, Jason Blazek, Carrie (Leon) Panske, all of Oconto Falls; two grandchildren, Odin and Alec Halvorsen; one sister, Janet Blazek, Green Bay; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Connie Anderson, Rhinelander; Terry (Bev) Umentum, Oconto Falls; Faye (Duane) Janik, Lena; Robert Umentum, CA; Wendy (Gerry) Hickey, Abrams; Mark Umentum, Lena; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Donald, his in-laws Emanuel “Chick” and Fern Umentum, one brother-in-law Duane Anderson and nephew Patrick Umentum.

Visitation will be held 3:00 until 8:00 pm Monday, November 22, 2021 at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls. Visitation will continue after 9:00 am Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at the funeral home until the time of service at 11:00 am Tuesday with Pastor Bill Kamke officiating.  Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery in Spruce.

Upon Jim’s death, many Kelly Lake walleyes will be spared and “you can keep as many damn snakes as you want!”