A Celebration of Life Memorial service for 81-year-old Michael “Mike” Blanchard of Atlantic, will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, April 5th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. Visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday starting at 10:00 a.m. The family welcomes everyone to join them at the Elbow Room starting at 3:00 p.m. (even if you are unable to be at the funeral home) for continued celebration of Mike. Roland Funeral Service is caring for Mike’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
Michael Ray was born on September 21, 1943, in Fairmont Minnesota, the son of Erle and Barbara (Ruble) Blanchard. He grew up doing what you do as a kid on the farm, but when his brother suffered an injury, he had to step up and take on more responsibility. One of Mike’s favorite childhood memories was going fishing at farm ponds with friends. He attended school and graduated from Fairmont High School.
On November 28, 1976, he was united in marriage to Marilyn (Leslie) Popp at the Little Brown Church in The Vale in Nashua, Iowa. The couple was blessed with one son, Zachary and welcomed children from their previous marriages, Missie, Jodi, Jim, Jack, Gary, David and Diane.
His life as a truck driver started with hauling loads of cattle from Minnesota to South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. After he moved to Atlantic, he took a break from trucking and worked for Electronics Associates installing and repairing satellites in the area and also worked at the Cass County Landfill. The road called him again in the mid 90’s at which time he worked for Crete Carriers and ran loads as his own owner/operator for Western Express. When he was home, he took on many construction projects at the bar. Marilyn went in the truck with him from time to time and son, Zachary also remembers a trip to New York City in which the trip out went quick with the excitement of being on the road with his dad but the trip home not so much. Mike retired from trucking in 2015.
Marilyn and Mike took countless trips to casinos, near and far, and Marilyn always was a little miffed but joked about she would win it and then he lost it. The couple also took a trip to Switzerland, Germany and France and little did they know in France that they would be treated like royalty with the last name, which was a historically important name. He lived a simple life and was happiest at home, outside he rode his horses, tinkered on various things and made sure his lawn looked nice and inside he watched, Rodeo’s, Hallmark movies and Westerns, Lonesome Dove being a favorite. Mike enjoyed listening to Polka and older country music.
Mike was blunt, he called it like it was without hesitation, he was stubborn as a mule, set in his ways and held strong political views. He had a strong personality but his soft side came out from time to time and lending a helping hand if he could to anyone that needed it.
Mike is survived by his sons, Zachary (Christine) Blanchard, Jim Blanchard and Jack Blanchard; daughters, Missie (Bob) Nemitz and Jodi (Jay) Primeau; grandchildren, Jacob Nemitz and Bailey Eastwood; sister-in-law, Marilyn Blanchard; the Popp family; cats, Spike and Molly; and many extended family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Erle and Barbara Blanchard; wife, Marilyn Blanchard; step-sons, Gary Popp and David Popp; step-daughter, Diane (David “Ski”); and brother, Brian Blanchard.
A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, April 5th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. Visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday starting at 10:00 a.m.
The service will be recorded and available on the funeral home website by end of day Saturday.
The family welcomes everyone to join them at the Elbow Room starting at 3:00 p.m. (even if you are unable to be at the funeral home) for continued celebration of Mike.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Mike’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
