Robert 'Bob' Leroy Blenz, 83

Robert “Bob” Leroy Blenz passed away Jan. 1, 2016, at the age of 83. He was born Sept. 27, 1932, in Kettle Falls, Wash., to Elsie and Roy Blenz.

His parents were divorced shortly after his birth and his mother married Harold (Slim) Dayton, a road construction worker. Bob always said he couldn’t have had a better Dad. The family moved numerous times and Bob attended 43 schools, always said he got his education in the real world and learned to meet all types of people and it served him well.

He always worked; starting with paper routes, setting pins, etc. He quit school in the 10th grade, went to work shaking hides in a rendering plant, become a hod carrier, worked at Armour in the smoked meat department, and Andrews Equipment rentals.

At age 18, met his future wife, Hazel Anderson, got married April 20, 1952, got a job at the magnesium plant, until Uncle Sam called him to join the Navy, become a metal Smith and got a world tour on the battleship Wisconsin.

On release he went to Hobart Welding school in Troy, Wis., courtesy of the government. He came back to Spokane as a welder but it was too unreliable, so he answered an ad in the paper, washing ink barrels for an ink company. Soon he was making ink, then delivering it, then selling it and other printing supplies. This territory was from the Cascades to the Rockies, for all printing companies and newspapers, etc. He ended up managing the Spokane branch of Cal Ink for 17 years. He starting his own ink company, bought Blanchard Tavern, got into logging with two trucks and a loader, started a dry air filter remanufacturing business, which were all successful. He could do anything!

He leaves behind Hazel, his wife of 63 years; two sons, Bob Jr. of Deer Park and Ken of Blanchard; four grandkids and five great-grandkids.

When he hit 80, he said he was on bonus time, had no regrets and that he’s done it all.

At his request, no services will be held.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.