Mavis A. Blazek

Mavis A. Blazek, Kelly Lake, 94, Spruce, died Thursday morning, September 28, 2023 at home.  She was born November 23, 1928 in Oconto Falls to Frank and Victoria (Christensen) Kamke.  She grew up in the Kelly Brook area where she attended elementary school, before graduating from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1946.  Following graduation from high school, she attended Marinette Normal where she received her teaching certificate.  Her first teaching job was at Apple Orchard, a one-room school house in the Town of Gillett, where she taught all eight grades of about 40 children.

On December 31, 1949 she married Melvin “Bucky” Blazek at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church at Kelly Brook.  Following their marriage, Mavis would go on to teach all eight grades in rural schools at Kelly Lake and Messenger Creek School near Klondike before teaching at Spruce School, a two room schoolhouse.  Eventually she taught fifth grade at Oconto Falls Elementary School for many years until retiring in 1989 after 37 years of teaching.  It was during this time that Mavis was a devoted wife and mother of three sons.  She also obtained her Bachelor of Science in teaching degree from UW-Oshkosh and served as church organist, first at St. Mark’s with an original pump organ and later at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church.  Over the years, she has been active in the church choir, bible study groups and numerous women’s activities and events.  Mavis is also a longtime member of NORTA, an area retired teachers association.  She also enjoyed golfing, reading, traveling with friends, sewing and the time she could spend with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Her family includes three sons, Allan (Sally) Blazek, Kelly Lake; Dennis (Judith) Blazek, Oconto Falls; Thomas (Linda) Blazek, Pound; seven grandchildren: Amber (Jim) Kuchenbecker, Trina (Brad) Paitl, Travis (Krista) Blazek, Troy (Sara) Blazek, Angela (Chad) Rabas, Sheila (Randy) Fisher and Brett Blazek; 10 great grandchildren: Chaela and Adrena Rabas, Trent and Brayden Blazek, Isabelle and Cressida Blazek, Hunter and Haylee Kuchenbecker, Trevor and Molly Fisher; one sister, Noni Dobratz, Kelly Lake; one brother, Rev. Bill (Nancy) Kamke, Kelly Lake; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Melvin “Bucky” on June 6, 2003, brother-in-law Harvey Dobratz and one nephew, Jimmy Dobratz.

Visitation will take place 4:00 until 8:00 PM Monday, October 2, 2023 at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls.  Visitation will continue after 9:00 AM Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, Cty. M, Suring until the time of service.  Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday at the church with Pastor Beth Macha officiating.  Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery, Spruce.