Don, age 83, passed away on May 8, 2015 at his home in Olympia, Washington. He was born on October 14, 1931, in Wenatchee, Washington to Edith and Ellis Blocher.
In 1940, the Blochers moved to Olympia. This is where Don met his future bride and love of his life, Louise “Stevie” Stephens. Don graduated from Olympia High School in 1950 and, by February of 1951, Don had enlisted in the Air Force. On June 19, 1951, Don and Louise were married and, just one month later, he was deployed.
Don worked as a medical equipment repairman during his time in the service. He spent many months deployed in Japan, Africa and the Philippines. By the time Don was honorably discharged at the end of 1955, Louise had given birth to their first two children, Mike and LeAnn. They welcomed their third child, Bob, a few years later, while living in Sparks, Nevada.
During Don’s time in Sparks, he worked for IBM and also Harrah’s Club, fixing slot machines. In 1963, Don and his family moved back to Olympia. Soon after returning, Don and Louise started Custom Septic Service and together ran the company for 35 years. Don loved working and especially loved that his boys, Mike and Bob, were able to work with him. He also enjoyed taking his grandkids to work with him on occasion.
Don loved to joke and laugh and had many hobbies. He enjoyed working with his backhoe on many landscaping projects around his beautiful property that he was so proud of. Don got his pilot’s license and loved to fly airplanes; he also enjoyed salmon fishing in the ocean, but most of all he loved to travel. Don loved RV trips with Louise and often his sister, Donna, and her husband, Don, and little trips in the motorhome with the grandkids to the ocean or the family camp site at Wynoochee.
Don and Louise also loved to go on cruises together, Alaska being one of their favorite destinations. One of Don’s happiest moments was taking his entire family (kids and grandkids!) on a trip around Central America. They visited Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize and got to climb and explore many ancient ruins. It was a trip that will never be forgotten by anyone.
Another one of Don’s greatest joys were his grandkids and great-grandkids. He has eight grandchildren, Sean, Anna (Zach), Sam, Amanda, Alissa (Bryson), Stuart (Tara), Rose (Travis) and Becky. He also has 12 great-grandkids whom he loved and adored; he was the best “Papa”! His family will never forget the stories of his life he would tell, the little ditties he would sing, and how to have “handsome hair.”
Don was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Louise; his sister, Donna; and two of his great-grandsons, Rocky and Benji. Don is survived by his sister, Leona; brother, Loren; children, Mike, LeAnn and Bob; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
We love you, Papa! You will be greatly missed and forever loved!
In 1940, the Blochers moved to Olympia. This is where Don met his future bride and love of his life, Louise “Stevie” Stephens. Don graduated from Olympia High School in 1950 and, by February of 1951, Don had enlisted in the Air Force. On June 19, 1951, Don and Louise were married and, just one month later, he was deployed.
Don worked as a medical equipment repairman during his time in the service. He spent many months deployed in Japan, Africa and the Philippines. By the time Don was honorably discharged at the end of 1955, Louise had given birth to their first two children, Mike and LeAnn. They welcomed their third child, Bob, a few years later, while living in Sparks, Nevada.
During Don’s time in Sparks, he worked for IBM and also Harrah’s Club, fixing slot machines. In 1963, Don and his family moved back to Olympia. Soon after returning, Don and Louise started Custom Septic Service and together ran the company for 35 years. Don loved working and especially loved that his boys, Mike and Bob, were able to work with him. He also enjoyed taking his grandkids to work with him on occasion.
Don loved to joke and laugh and had many hobbies. He enjoyed working with his backhoe on many landscaping projects around his beautiful property that he was so proud of. Don got his pilot’s license and loved to fly airplanes; he also enjoyed salmon fishing in the ocean, but most of all he loved to travel. Don loved RV trips with Louise and often his sister, Donna, and her husband, Don, and little trips in the motorhome with the grandkids to the ocean or the family camp site at Wynoochee.
Don and Louise also loved to go on cruises together, Alaska being one of their favorite destinations. One of Don’s happiest moments was taking his entire family (kids and grandkids!) on a trip around Central America. They visited Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize and got to climb and explore many ancient ruins. It was a trip that will never be forgotten by anyone.
Another one of Don’s greatest joys were his grandkids and great-grandkids. He has eight grandchildren, Sean, Anna (Zach), Sam, Amanda, Alissa (Bryson), Stuart (Tara), Rose (Travis) and Becky. He also has 12 great-grandkids whom he loved and adored; he was the best “Papa”! His family will never forget the stories of his life he would tell, the little ditties he would sing, and how to have “handsome hair.”
Don was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Louise; his sister, Donna; and two of his great-grandsons, Rocky and Benji. Don is survived by his sister, Leona; brother, Loren; children, Mike, LeAnn and Bob; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
We love you, Papa! You will be greatly missed and forever loved!
Don, age 83, passed away on May 8, 2015 at his home in Olympia, Washington. He was born on October 14, 1931, in Wenatchee, Washington to Edith and Ellis Blocher.
In 1940, the Blochers moved to Olympia. This is where Don met his future bride and love of his life, Louise “Stevie” Stephens. Don graduated from Olympia High School in 1950 and, by February of 1951, Don had enlisted in the Air Force. On June 19, 1951, Don and Louise were married and, just one month later, he was deployed.
Don worked as a medical equipment repairman during his time in the service. He spent many months deployed in Japan, Africa and the Philippines. By the time Don was honorably discharged at the end of 1955, Louise had given birth to their first two children, Mike and LeAnn. They welcomed their third child, Bob, a few years later, while living in Sparks, Nevada.
During Don’s time in Sparks, he worked for IBM and also Harrah’s Club, fixing slot machines. In 1963, Don and his family moved back to Olympia. Soon after returning, Don and Louise started Custom Septic Service and together ran the company for 35 years. Don loved working and especially loved that his boys, Mike and Bob, were able to work with him. He also enjoyed taking his grandkids to work with him on occasion.
Don loved to joke and laugh and had many hobbies. He enjoyed working with his backhoe on many landscaping projects around his beautiful property that he was so proud of. Don got his pilot’s license and loved to fly airplanes; he also enjoyed salmon fishing in the ocean, but most of all he loved to travel. Don loved RV trips with Louise and often his sister, Donna, and her husband, Don, and little trips in the motorhome with the grandkids to the ocean or the family camp site at Wynoochee.
Don and Louise also loved to go on cruises together, Alaska being one of their favorite destinations. One of Don’s happiest moments was taking his entire family (kids and grandkids!) on a trip around Central America. They visited Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize and got to climb and explore many ancient ruins. It was a trip that will never be forgotten by anyone.
Another one of Don’s greatest joys were his grandkids and great-grandkids. He has eight grandchildren, Sean, Anna (Zach), Sam, Amanda, Alissa (Bryson), Stuart (Tara), Rose (Travis) and Becky. He also has 12 great-grandkids whom he loved and adored; he was the best “Papa”! His family will never forget the stories of his life he would tell, the little ditties he would sing, and how to have “handsome hair.”
Don was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Louise; his sister, Donna; and two of his great-grandsons, Rocky and Benji. Don is survived by his sister, Leona; brother, Loren; children, Mike, LeAnn and Bob; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
We love you, Papa! You will be greatly missed and forever loved!
In 1940, the Blochers moved to Olympia. This is where Don met his future bride and love of his life, Louise “Stevie” Stephens. Don graduated from Olympia High School in 1950 and, by February of 1951, Don had enlisted in the Air Force. On June 19, 1951, Don and Louise were married and, just one month later, he was deployed.
Don worked as a medical equipment repairman during his time in the service. He spent many months deployed in Japan, Africa and the Philippines. By the time Don was honorably discharged at the end of 1955, Louise had given birth to their first two children, Mike and LeAnn. They welcomed their third child, Bob, a few years later, while living in Sparks, Nevada.
During Don’s time in Sparks, he worked for IBM and also Harrah’s Club, fixing slot machines. In 1963, Don and his family moved back to Olympia. Soon after returning, Don and Louise started Custom Septic Service and together ran the company for 35 years. Don loved working and especially loved that his boys, Mike and Bob, were able to work with him. He also enjoyed taking his grandkids to work with him on occasion.
Don loved to joke and laugh and had many hobbies. He enjoyed working with his backhoe on many landscaping projects around his beautiful property that he was so proud of. Don got his pilot’s license and loved to fly airplanes; he also enjoyed salmon fishing in the ocean, but most of all he loved to travel. Don loved RV trips with Louise and often his sister, Donna, and her husband, Don, and little trips in the motorhome with the grandkids to the ocean or the family camp site at Wynoochee.
Don and Louise also loved to go on cruises together, Alaska being one of their favorite destinations. One of Don’s happiest moments was taking his entire family (kids and grandkids!) on a trip around Central America. They visited Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize and got to climb and explore many ancient ruins. It was a trip that will never be forgotten by anyone.
Another one of Don’s greatest joys were his grandkids and great-grandkids. He has eight grandchildren, Sean, Anna (Zach), Sam, Amanda, Alissa (Bryson), Stuart (Tara), Rose (Travis) and Becky. He also has 12 great-grandkids whom he loved and adored; he was the best “Papa”! His family will never forget the stories of his life he would tell, the little ditties he would sing, and how to have “handsome hair.”
Don was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Louise; his sister, Donna; and two of his great-grandsons, Rocky and Benji. Don is survived by his sister, Leona; brother, Loren; children, Mike, LeAnn and Bob; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
We love you, Papa! You will be greatly missed and forever loved!
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