Peter W. “Pete” Blake, age 62, of Merrill, died Friday, July 12, 2013 at William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison.
Pete was born Sept. 20, 1950, son of Phyllis (Christensen) Blake and the late Warren ‘Keith’ Blake. He married Kathleen Kampmeyer on Aug. 27, 1977, in Merrill. She survives.
Pete enlisted in the United States Army in 1970. He served in Vietnam as part of the 1st Cavalry. He was honorably discharged in 1973. Pete graduated from UW-Oshkosh with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. He was the office manager at American Asphalt for over 25 years.
Pete enjoyed hunting in his earlier years, fishing, camping, gardening, cooking, and reading. He loved cars, especially his Shelby Mustang. He also enjoyed the company of his pooch, Shelby. Pete really loved music. Pete was interested in American Indian culture and the history of the West. He was also interested in philosophy and was very open and accepting to the spiritual beliefs of others. Pete and his wife, Kathy, volunteered much of their time to helping veterans. They delivered many different things to the King Veteran’s Home and to homeless veterans. Pete had very good friends from the VA in Wausau. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, Merrill.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy Blake, of Merrill; one daughter, Sarah Blake, of Madison; one son, Samuel (Tabitha Bennish) Blake, of Dodgeville; his mother, Phyllis Blake, of Merrill; his dog, Shelby; one sister, Julie (Louis) Glassman, of West Bend, WI; one brother, Richard Blake, of Merrill; three sisters-in-law, Donna Kampmeyer, of Merrill, Joanne (Mike) Madigan, of Plover, and Karen (John) Larson, of West Bend, WI; one brother-in-law, David Kampmeyer, of Merrill; two nieces, Gail Glassman, of Milwaukee, and Kristen Larson, of Seattle, WA; four nephews, Andrew (Amanda) Glassman, of Elm Grove, WI, Michael Madigan, of St. Paul, MN, Daniel (Heidi) Madigan, of Indianapolis, IN, and Timothy Larson, of Madison; and his long-time friends, Marlo Schmidt and Peter Rehwinkle. Pete was preceded in death by his father, Warren “Keith” Blake; and one infant brother, Christopher Blake.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 18, at Christ United Methodist Church, Merrill. Pastor Angie Steinhauer will officiate. Burial will take place in Merrill Memorial Park, Merrill, with graveside military rites conducted by V.F.W. Post 1638, Merrill. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, and again after 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the church. The Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to King Veteran’s Home.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com.