Blake Lunders

Blake Lunders, 49, Roscoe, died Monday, September 14, 2020 in a farm accident five miles northwest of Ipswich.

Mass of Christian Burial was at 10 a.m., Monday, September 21, 2020 at St. Augustine's Catholic Church, Bowdle, with Father Darin Schmidt, Celebrant. Interment followed at the Church Cemetery with a Bell Service honoring Blake's dedication to firefighting.

Blake Lee Lunders, son of Jeannette (Grismer) and Arnold Lunders, was born in Aberdeen on June 25, 1971. He was brought up on the family farm 12 miles east of Hosmer. He attended school in Hosmer, graduating with the Class of 1989. He went on to Lake Area Vocational School in Watertown, focusing on electrical studies. He then returned to the family farm. Blake married Tammy Thomas on July 1, 1995 at St. Augustine's Church in Bowdle. They first settled on the farm west of Hosmer.

In 1998, he became employed at Schurr's Manufacturing, where he worked the rest of his life, and relocated to Roscoe. His work at Schurr's included lots of welding, farming and fabricating. From 2001-2009, Blake and his family lived in Bowdle and then they relocated to a farm near Roscoe where he lived the rest of his life.

Blake will be remembered as a dedicated volunteer fireman, both for the Roscoe and Bowdle squads. Since 2010, he served as Roscoe's Fire Chief. He was also gifted with the ability to turn trash into treasure. He was able to revive old lawn mowers and even made his own log splitter. He was skilled at building (actually over-building) things from recycled materials and wood. Blake also cherished being a grandpa.

Blake is survived by his father, Arnold of Aberdeen; Tammy, his wife of 25 years; one son, Cody Lunders of Bowdle; three daughters, Ashley (Jay McCarlson) Lunders of Bowdle, Heidi (Scott) Lunders Miller and Belle Lunders of Roscoe; two brothers, Jake (Katrina) Lunders of Roscoe and Keith Lunders of Ipswich; one sister, Susan (Marlin) Lehr of Aberdeen; two grandchildren, Hailey and Natali; his niece, Melissa (Paul) Fisher of Aberdeen; and his nephew, Kendall Lunders, of Ipswich.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Jeannette, on April 6, 2012 and his brother, Edward, on September 2, 1979.

Honorary bearers were Blake's co-workers at Schurr's and area volunteer firefighters.

Casketbearers were Dave McCarlson, Jay McCarlson, and Mike Kessel of Bowdle; Scott Miller and Allen Beyers of Roscoe; and Chad Preszler of Hosmer.

Musicians were Margy Bobby and Ann Thomsen. Usher was Pat Dewald and lector was Blake's father-in-law, Norbert Thomas. Blakes children, Ashley, Heidi, Cody, and Belle, placed the pall on his casket.

Services are in care of Lien Funeral Home, Bowdle. Blake's funeral was livestreamed on Lien Family Funeral Care's Facebook page and is available at http://www.MillerLienFH.com.