Edward J Blaser

Edward Joseph (Ed) Blaser, 90, passed away Sunday, August 13, 2017 in Fresno, California. Ed was born August 2, 1927, to Edward J. Blaser, Sr. and Edwina Spilbauer Blaser in Dubuque, Iowa, and was one of four children. Ed served in the United States Navy in WWII and met his beautiful bride, Leota Taylor, while stationed at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. They married in 1946 in Reno, Nevada and recently celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary.

Ed and Leota began their life together in Dubuque, Iowa where Ed was working for the Illinois Central Railroad as a telegrapher. After relocating to California he went on to become a credit manager for Sears in both Southern California and the Central Valley of California. Ed and Leota raised 3 daughters, Cheryl, Charlene, and Linda.

After his retirement from Sears in 1967 they opened Blaser’s Fashion Fabrics in the Fashion Fair Extension Shopping Center at First & Shaw.

His love for fishing, and traveling with family and friends in their RV’s saw the Blasers exploring new sights from coast to coast.

Ed is survived by his wife, Leota; daughters, Cheryl (Dennis) Gudgel; Charlene (Thayne) Wright; and, Linda (Robert) Franks; grandchildren, Bryan and Stacy Gudgel, Daniel and Jesse Gudgel, Deborah and Brian Pelton, Rebekah and Michael Phillips, Heather and Eric Dragoo, Kyle and Nancy Wright, Brandon and Summer Franks, Brittany and Drew Shilling; and 23 great-grandchildren.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters, Marie, Hilda, and Jane.

“Our hearts still ache in sadness and secret tears still flow, what it means to lose you, no one will ever know.”

The family wishes to thank the staff at Cottonwood Court and Saint Agnes Hospice for their loving care.

Arrangements: Boice Funeral Home in Clovis with private graveside services at Clovis Cemetery.