Harold (Harry) Joseph Blake, 87, of Hagerstown, MD, formerly of Ontonagon, MI, passed away on Friday, January 1, 2021, after a brief illness while being cared for at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV. His son Michael was by his side at the time of his death and was able to witness his father’s Final Salute Ceremony conducted by the VA.
Harry was born on August 28, 1933, to William and Gladys Blake of Greenland, MI. After graduating from high school, he worked at a local lumber yard and then a Flint, MI grocery store chain. In his early 20’s Harry enlisted in the Army where he attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, a U.S. Army training installation located in the Missouri Ozarks. Following basic training he was detailed to Ft. Belvoir, VA, and trained in logistics and warehousing to earn the title of Storage Engineer. Following his schooling he deployed to Verdun, France, as part of a war recovery effort where he ran a warehouse for the Army and played basketball for his battalion league across Europe. Harry enjoyed and often discussed his time overseas traveling through France, Germany, and the Netherlands. He used to remark that it was quite an experience for a kid from a small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Following his time in the Army, Harry returned home to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where he worked in a lumber yard as a timekeeper for the labor force and shortly afterwards met his wife to be, Frances Marie Weigel. They were married in October 1957 and remained blissfully in love until Fran’s passing in early 2016.
Harry was a kind, gentle, and hardworking member of the Ontonagon community with an entrepreneurial spirit that eventually led him to own and run the local Standard Oil Distribution business providing heating oil and other petroleum products to homes and businesses through the county, he built a number of homes in Ontonagon, and then moved away to buy and manage Wyandotte Hills Golf Course in Twin Lakes, MI for a number of years before selling it to return to Ontonagon. Following his return to Ontonagon in the late 80’s, Harry went on to work for the Ontonagon Road Commission where he stayed until his retirement. Ever hardworking, Harry was determined to provide for his family and give them the life he felt they deserved. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world, something he often mentioned. He was unendingly proud of his only son Michael Blake and loved caring for his wife Fran. Harry was also a member of the Ontonagon United Methodist Church and loved his church family very much as well.
Anyone who knew Harry realized that he was the most loving father and husband a family could ask for. Harry was preceded in death by his parents William and Gladys Blake, his brothers Clyde and Donald Blake, and his loving wife Frances Blake. He is survived by his brother Dale Blake and his family of Ontonagon, MI, his sister in-law Georgia Saarela and her family of Brighton, MI, and his son and daughter in-law Michael and Jennifer Blake of West Virginia, and his grandchildren Justin and Samantha Blake of Maryland.
The family plans to host a small celebration of life ceremony in summer 2021 where Harry will be buried next to his wife Fran at Evergreen Cemetery in Ontonagon MI.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations in Harry’s honor be provided to the local VFW Post in Ontonagon Michigan or the United Methodist Church of Ontonagon, MI.
VFW Post Donations: VFW Post 5600, 915 River Street Ontonagon MI 49953
United Methodist Church Donations: United Methodist Church, 109 Greenland Rd, Ontonagon, MI 49953
Arrangements made by Brown Funeral Home.