Warren L. Blake, 86, rural Morris, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, June 30, 2011, at his home with his loving family by his side.
Born Dec. 4, 1924, on the family farm in Wauponsee Township, Grundy County, Warren was the son of William L. and Florence (McArdle) Blake. He received his education in the Thum school in Wauponsee Township. He graduated from Morris High School with the class of 1942.
Warren served his country in the U. S. Army during World War II and was stationed in the Pacific Theater of Operations in the Philippines.
With his brother, William "Bud" Blake, they farmed for more than 50 years on the family farms in Wauponsee and Mazon Townships in Grundy County.
Warren was an avid sports and family man who could be found attending many of his nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews events. He enjoyed working with wood and took great pride in creating doll houses, barns and garages for the many members of his family. He attended many county fairs in the area and could be found on Liberty Street during the Morris Cruise nights.
He was a member of the Grundy County Farm Bureau.
Survivors include his three loving sisters, Wilma Starks of Streator, Ill.; Juanita Blake and Marjorie Glenn of Wauponsee Township; along with numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, John A. Blake, who died in 2002, and William "Bud" Blake, who died Oct. 21, 2006; three sisters, Lois Wray, who died Oct. 5, 2002, Florence Huss, who died Jan. 13, 2005, and Eleanor Blake, who died Feb. 6, 2008.
The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home Ltd., 301 W. Washington St., Morris, where funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday July 6, 2011. Rev. Deborah Percell will officiate.
Military honors will be conducted by the Morris Color Guard.
Preferred form of remembrance would be memorial gifts to We Care of Grundy County or Operation St. Nick.
Condolences to the family can be shared at http://www.ucdavisansons.com.
U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home, 301 W. Washington St., Morris, is in charge of arrangements. For more information, call (815) 942-0084 or visit the website www.ucdavisandsons.com.