Louis Blaser

On Saturday, January 11, 2014, Louis Edward Blaser, Sr. went home to be with the Lord. He was born in Monroe, Wisconsin on November 11, 1916 to Edward Blaser and Rose Marie (Kunz) Blaser. He and his family settled in Eau Claire where Louis graduated High School. He married Bertha Elaine Preston on November 19, 1938. In 1940 Louis and his family moved to Madison where he went to work for Straus Printing. When the war broke out, Bertha moved back to the farm in Eau Claire and Louis moved to Canada for 18 months to work on the Alaska Highway. In January 1945 he was drafted and after boot camp in Texas he was sent to Japan for occupation as the war with the Japanese had ended. After the war they bought a home in Sun Prairie on Church Street and he went back to work for Straus Printing. In 1949 Louis and two others started their own printing company called Litho Productions, Inc. in Madison, where he worked until 1961. At that time he began a new business located in Sun Prairie called Automated Typesetting, Inc. They set type for the printing industry. Louis was active in several service clubs for printers as well as becoming a charter member of the Sun Prairie Rotary Club in 1960. He attained 53 years and 8 months of perfect attendance. Years later he built the famous Louie's Blazer for cooking pancakes at the Rotary Pancake Feast. He also ran for the City council of the first ward in 1960. He won as a write-in candidate and served for another 12 years. In 1978 he helped start the Cable Media Access and Kid's 4 Cable Channel. All completely produced by eighth grade kids and younger. He also worked closely on the Library and Historic Museum. He was the recipient of many awards over the years. Craftsman of the Year, (Printing). Exchange Club, (Book of Golden Deeds). Rotary's Paul Harris Fellow (4 times). City of Sun Prairie (Community Service). And many others.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 75 years, Bertha. His parents, and his two younger brothers, James Blaser and David Blaser. He is survived by two sisters, Rosabelle Beiers, Spartanburg, SC. and Florence Wittwer of Scottsdale, AZ. Four children, Louis E., Jr. (Marie) of Verona, Robert A. (Bonnie B.) of Sun Prairie, Sharon L. Drew of New Berlin, Bonnie J. Larkfield of Racine. 14 grand children and 25 great grand children.
A visitation and fellowship will be held in Heritage Hall at Calvary Baptist Church, 304 Woodward Way, Sun Prairie, at 2 P.M. on Saturday, February 1.