Arnold `Arnie` Blasing

Arnold C. "Arnie" Blasing, 72, of Pine Island, died Thursday, November 16, 2006 at home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Pine Island with the Revs. John Torris Lohre and Kip Groettum officiating. Interment will follow in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester. Casketbearers will be Ron Frericks, Peter Helland, Gordon Flaten, Jeff Flaten, Leonard Broich, Arnold Gathje and John Rud. Visitation will be held on Monday from 5-8 p.m. at Mahn Family Funeral Home-Mahler Chapel in Pine Island and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Arnold Charles Blasing was born on December 20, 1933 in Rochester to Charles and Alma (Tietz) Blasing. He was raised in Pine Island and graduated from Pine Island High School. Arnie served for two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He married Ginger Runyan on November 29, 1963 in Rochester. Arnie worked at IBM for 37 years managing numerous projects and departments. After retiring, he was a consultant for six years with Star Data Systems. In 1995, Arnie opened the Northtown Carwash in Pine Island. He was a member of Saint Paul Lutheran Church, as well as the IBM Retirees and the Quarter Century Club at IBM. Arnie enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling and walking the Douglas Trail. Arnie is survived by his wife, Ginger of Pine Island; son, Jon (Kelly) Blasing of Shorewood, MN; daughter, Rebekah (James) Holder of Las Vegas, NV; six grandchildren and his sister, Donna (Gordon) Flaten of Waseca, MN.