Anthony ‘Tony’ Blazek, 48
Anthony “Tony” Blazek, age 48 of Lawler, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. (although we would have told Tony 10 so he’d be on time) Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, at Holy Family Parish in New Hampton, with the Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass.
Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery in New Hampton with Jon Smith, Tom Smith, Patrick Smith, Jeremy Reicks, Chris Jirak and Jeff Clancy serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Tom Blazek, Gene Blazek, and Donald Blazek Jr.
Friends greeted the family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton where there was a 7 p.m. Parish Scripture Service. Visitation continued an hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.
Tony was born on March 25, 1973, to Michael “Mickey” and Sherri (Barnett) Blazek in New Hampton, and he grew up on a farm just north of Lawler with his two older sisters — Kristy and Kathleen.
He attended Turkey Valley schools, where he played football as a hard-hitting linebacker and was a member of the Class of 1991, and after graduating, he attended college for a short time and worked several jobs, but for most of his life, he worked in military equipment sales. He traveled extensively around the globe, and he had firsthand knowledge of scores of airports throughout the world.
Tony worked hard so that he could provide for his family. He leaves behind three beautiful children — Destiny, Anthony, and Liam. He had recently become engaged to Supriya Jha, and Tony was so excited for the birth of their daughter this coming March.
As much as he worked and as far as he traveled, Tony was most at home here in Iowa. He loved working on cars, a love that he shared with his father, and Tony beautifully restored numerous cars. Some of his favorites included an ’81 Corvette, a ’63 Chevrolet Impala and a ’31 Dodge.
Tony was an outstanding pool player and, more than once, he casually ran the table against one of his pool league opponents (you know who you are).
More than anything, he will be remembered by the family and friends who loved him as a “giver.” Tony never complained about aches and pains; instead, he focused on being a dutiful son, a caring and nurturing father, and a loving fiance to Supriya. Tony would set alarms on his phone to remind himself, even in the middle of a busy workday, to call those that he loved. It may seem like a little thing, but it showed that Tony knew what was most important in his life.
It wasn’t his job, the sales he made, or even the cars he worked on; it was loving the people most important to him.
Tony’s compassion for all of God’s creatures could be seen by the love he had for his (Princess) Leah, the black German Shepherd he cared for after a terrible accident. Anyone else would have said there was no way to deal with Leah’s injuries, but Tony just could not put her down and instead, gave her a wonderful, rewarding life.
His passing is such a shock. He spent the last full day of his life enjoying a beautiful day with Supriya and his boys in Decorah, and, like always, he was so full of life and vigor.
As his family gathers to bid farewell to this loving, giving, young-at-heart man, they know that today, he is probably under the hood of a car with Mickey while keeping a watchful, helpful eye on those he left behind.
Tony is survived by his mother, Sherri Blazek of New Hampton; his fiancé, Supriya Jha of Lawler; his two sons, Anthony and Liam of Lawler; his daughter, Destiny of Denver, Colorado; his daughter who will be born in March; two sisters, Kristy (Blazek) Hopes of Mason City, and Kathleen (Kevin) Bonthius of Edina, Minnesota; his nieces, Andrea, Michaela, Rebecca, Emma, and Alexandra; many loving cousins, aunts and uncles; and Amanda (Prideaux) Blazek (Destiny, Anthony and Liam’s mother).
He was preceded in death by his father, Mickey.
