George Blakesley

George Blakesley was born April 27, 1920 to Walter George and Elva (Evans) Blakesley in Leon, Iowa. Called "Junior" by family and neighbors, he whistled his way through childhood. He served as lifeguard at the Leon pool, and participated in sports throughout high school.
He served his country with honor in World War II, as a Staff Sergeant and Forward Observer for the 13th Armored Field Artillery Division, stationed in Germany.
He married his life-long love, E. Joyce (Wood) Blakesley, on August 12, 1945.
George attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1950. He went to work for the Des Moines Public School System as Supervisor of Construction. In later years, he worked as the Director of Construction for Mercy Hospital in Des Moines until his retirement in 1982.
He was an active member of Capitol Hill Christian Church in Des Moines for more than 50 years, where he served as Elder, Deacon, Chairman of the Board, Treasurer, Sunday School Superintendent, choir member, actor, Sunday School teacher, worship leader, member of Men's Fellowship, pancake flipper and everything else that was asked of him.
George loved camping with his wife and family. He also enjoyed playing cards with life long friends, the Rings and the Irvings. He read anything he could get his hands on and loved collecting coins, spoons, stamps, various collectibles, and many other things. He delighted in woodworking and fixing things around the house and his church. His family was the most important thing in his life; and having all of his children, grandchildren and great-grand children together was the joy of his life, as long as he could turn down his hearing aid when it got too noisy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Vere Blakesley, and his sister Verda Blakesley. Those left to honor his memory include: his wife, Joyce; his daughter, Susan Blakesley Eisenhour and her husband, Jerry Eisenhour, of Charleston, Illinois; Margaret Blakesley and her husband, Robert Monk, of Des Moines; his son Blake Blakesley and his wife, Lynn Munzenmaier Blakesley, of Newtown, PA; and his son Scott Blakesley and his wife, Joyce Moore Blakesley, of Leawood, KS. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Kate Eisenhour Elmer and her husband, Paul Elmer, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK; Joshua George Blakesley and his wife, Maria Elena Diaz Blakesley, of Landsdale, PA; Elisabeth Blakesley Ballstadt and her husband, Travis Ballstadt, of Des Moines; Ben Blakesley and his wife, Lauryn Hancock Blakesley, of Douglasville, PA; David Blakesley and his fiancé, Sarah Zimmerman, of Leawood, KS; and Sara Blakesley of Leawood, KS. Also surviving are his four great grandchildren: Isabell, Freya, Wilco and Caroline Grace.
George died peacefully on Friday morning, August 17, 2007, at Mercy Hospital, of a lung infection. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Funeral services will be held at Capitol Hill Christian Church, 3322 East 25th Street in Des Moines, on Monday, August 20, 2007, at 11:00 AM followed by a lunch served by his friends at the church. A graveside service will be held in Leon, Iowa, the same day, following the lunch at the church.

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