James Earl Blattner
July 13, 1927 - August 28, 2021
On August 28, 2021, James Earl Blattner, loving father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 94.
Jim was born on a homestead near the small town of Wapella, in Saskatchewan, Canada, on July 13, 1927, the youngest child of Cora and Harry Blattner. He grew up along with his brother and sister (George and Leora) in a house without electricity or indoor plumbing. There were 2 large draft horses (Dan and Bonny) to do the field work, and 2 beloved quarter horses (Dick and Nell) to pull the buggy, wagon and cutter. They raised their own food and had a milk cow, chickens and other animals. But the depression times were hard and when Jim was 6 or 7 the family sold the homestead and moved to Eastern Washington.
The children went to school in Tietan. They were pulled out of school when cherries and other fruit ripened in the springtime. The whole family started their picking in Oregon and followed the crops north. When the local apple warehouse burned down, Jim’s Dad, Harry, was finally able to get into the Carpenter’s Union, as builders were needed. This led to their move to Tacoma where Harry and George worked as carpenters during the building of Fort Lewis.
While Jim was in junior high school he contracted polio, which left him with a compromised right hand and arm. He learned to use his left hand and never let his handicap stop him from doing anything. Over his lifetime Jim worked on cars and rooftops, doing carpentry and remodeling on his home and rental properties. He had a real green thumb, and he spent many hours each week tending to his beautiful garden. He planted 12 rose bushes around their pool and over 100 daffodils and tulips in the front garden. He grew the flowers for Alice, who loved and displayed them in their home. Jim started wood carving as a child and began carving again in his retirement. His woodcarving pieces (birds, whales, dolphins, roadrunners, bears and giraffes, etc.) are prized by all his family.
Jim met Alice at Lincoln High School in Tacoma while working on the school newspaper, The Lincoln News. He was a feature writer for the Lil’ Abe column and Alice was a newspaper editor. He wrote many poems for the Lincoln News and some were later published in local newspapers. These are two examples. We like to think he wrote this first poem for Alice.
Sunshine
She smiled sweetly towards the sun,
nor does she mind its light;
for in her smile a radiance,
that sparkles twice as bright.
The mighty sun with all its light,
By clouds is overcast.
But she just smiles and says hello,
And lo, the clouds have passed.
Personality
With all respect that’s due me,
And not to play the fool,
But my teacher sure must like me,
Cause she keeps me after school
Jim and Alice became engaged while he was at the University of Washington earning a degree in sociology. Alice was attending the College of Puget Sound and worked at the Tacoma Public Library. Jim sold his car for $300 to buy her an engagement ring after his brother’s wife, Betty, told him that if he was serious about that girl, he should put a ring on her finger with all those returning WWII GI’s attending her college! He had to take the train to visit Alice until they were married on August 19, 1949 at the Asbury Methodist Church in Tacoma. A few years later, they moved to the house on Greenwood where they raised four daughters.
Jim worked for and later partnered with Lou McGee selling and acquiring real estate. Sometime around 1963 Jim went back to the University of Washington to get a teaching degree. He then taught grades 3-6 at Graham Hill Elementary School in Seattle for nearly 30 years. He liked 3rd grade the best.
Church was important and Jim was active and served on the Board of Trustees at Woodland Park Methodist Church. He helped repair and maintain the church building, counted offering money, and assisted in set up and clean ups after many church events.
When Alice and Jim moved to the Palatine house, they installed a swimming pool which became a focal point for many dinners, parties and reunions. Games were always a key part of the family entertainment. They enjoyed playing pinochle regularly with good friends Roy & Marion, and also with their daughters and sons-in-law for many years.
Jim and Alice loved camping in their trailer at the property on Lake Arrowhead, and Jim would fish for trout nearly every day. The lake location became a favorite destination for many large family gatherings, everyone bringing their own tents or campers. Jim and Alice also travelled all over the United States with family and friends, and visited Europe several times - once taking The Great Trains of Europe Tour on 16 trains. They especially enjoyed boating vacations with Dale and Janet, car trips pulling the trailer with their friends, the Oquists, and travels to Mexico and Hawaii…one time cruising to Hawaii on the QE2 with their church friends, the Ormbrecks.
Jim had a wonderful memory and told many humorous stories, jokes and puns during family get-togethers. He liked to say that teachers don’t die, they just lose their class! When asked in 2020 how he and Alice had stayed married for all those 71 years, Jim answered, “When we were first married, we agreed that I would make all the major decisions and she would make all the minor decisions. It worked out for us, you know, but of course we haven’t had any major decisions yet!”
Alice passed away in January of 2021. In August, on what would have been their 72nd Anniversary, Jim recalled swimming in their pool with Alice the year before. He said, “We swam on our 71st wedding anniversary! - Who else could say that!” Jim also asserted that he had heard and believed that the best thing a dad could do for his children was to love their mom. ❤️
JIm is survived by his four daughters: Kathy Jacobson (Lance); Judy Bircher (Ken); Marjy Chilelli (Tony) and Barby Rhind (Kevin); grandchildren Derrik, Anthony, Annie, Kaitlyn, Andy, Karli, Serena and Alex; great grandchildren Judah, Gabriel and Aila; honorary grandchildren Rachael Barrett (Ben) and Mark Tremblay (Davie) and their children Liam and Mila; honorary daughters Sharon Lustig and Denise Mager (Bob) and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.
The family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many expressions of love, concern and kindness shown to them in recent days and would also like to thank the Kaiser Hospice nurses and staff for their caring help and support.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
Services will be held at a later date.
DONATIONS
Memorial donations may be made to the Woodland Park United Methodist Church (reference the Blattner Memorial Fund) at 302 N. 78th St., Seattle, WA 98103.