John Walter Bletsch

John “Big John” Walter Bletsch, 87, of Boulder City passed away on April 22, 2015. John was born April 24, 1927 in Muskegon, Michigan, to Howard and Edna Bletsch. John’s early years were hard. His father died when he was 5, leaving him plenty of milking, plowing and other hard farm work. He learned from this and became a true self-made man. In 1958, John, wife Iris, and son Gerry moved to Boulder City where they welcomed the birth of John Michael Bletsch Jr. in 1961. Circumstances caused the family reluctantly to return to Michigan. Their love of Boulder City, and the longing to make it their home, was realized in 1968 when they returned to run the Boulder Conoco Station, on what was then, a very short business stretch of Boulder Highway. John hired many of Boulder City’s youth. Little did he know, those 16-year-old kids would become his lifelong friends. With the purchase of a single tow truck, Big John’s Towing was established. As the business grew, John and Iris purchased land on Foothill Drive. With hard work and vision, Big John and Sons Inc. was expanded to encompass auto dismantling, complete auto service, used car sales, Radiator Master radiator shop, and a fleet of 5 tow trucks including four-wheel drive and heavy duty recovery services. In 1990, Big John’s Towing was sold to the DeBoer family, and the Bletsch family built Emission Express and Auto Care on Boulder Highway. John kept a watchful eye on the family business but went into “retirement” and opened Corvettes Etc. John loved his vehicles! He built hot rods in the 50’s and antique cars in the 60’s, winning the Horseless Carriage Club National Award in 1964 for his 1923 Willy’s Knight Country Club. He was a member of the local and national Model T Club. John appreciated all types of vehicles and owned at least one of almost anything imaginable, from American muscle cars to a Rolls Royce limo. John spent months at a time in Mexico running the beach with his sandrails and ATVs. John served in the armed forces and was an NRA member. He kept the American flag flying daily on Foothill Drive and at home. Being an accomplished harmonica player, John had a style like no other. He always left friends and family saying: “How does he do that?” Big John was an up front, to the point, kind of guy. Everyone always knew where they stood with him. John was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, loving wife Iris and son John Jr. He is survived by his sister Marian, daughters Mary Ann (Doug) and Ruth (Steve), son Gerry, Gerry’s wife Cindi, (who dedicated herself to 3 years round-the-clock care of Iris and John), John’s grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family from Michigan and Boulder City and his beloved dogs Bella, Dolly Parton and Tony. Big John’s family would like to invite all of those who have known him to a service celebrating his life on Saturday, May 9, 11:00 a.m., held graveside at Boulder City Cemetery Pavilion, 555 Adams Blvd.