Mark Blake

Funeral services for Mark Allan Blake, 58, of Pillager, MN formerly of Aurora will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, December 9, 2016 at the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora with Pastor Steve Banks officiating. A visitation will be held from noon until the 2:00 pm prior to the service. Military honors will be accorded by the Aurora-Hoyt Lakes Color Guard. A luncheon will be provided at the American Legion in Aurora following the service. All are welcome to attend. Mark died Monday, December 5, 2016 at his home. Mark was born on December 2, 1958 to James and Maxine (Miller) Blake in Big Fork, MN. He grew up and attended elementary school in Big Falls until his family moved to the Iron Range. Mark attended school in Biwabik. He enlisted into the US Army at the age of 17 where he was stationed in Germany. Mark attended college in Minneapolis where he studied land surveillance and hoped to pursue a degree in civil engineering. Mark married Candace Litchy in December of 1979. They raised Candace’s two children and had three children together. Mark had been employed by Arden Curry and Hibbing Taconite. Years later he moved to St. Cloud. While living there, he had been an active volunteer for disabled veterans. Most recently he resided in Pillager, MN. Mark enjoyed fishing, camping, and his Cadillacs. He especially took great pleasure in spending time with his children and grandchildren. Mark had dreams of traveling with his family in the near future. Survivors include his three daughters: Erin (Steven) Nyberg of Pillager, Rachel (Luke) Wells of Aurora, and Desire’e Blake of Hoyt Lakes; stepchildren: Michael Litchy of Aurora and Miranda (Chip) Forcier of New Hope; thirteen grandchildren: Alec and Charlea Johnson, Kaylie and Nicholas Nyberg, Austin Britton, Thomas, Aaliyah and Tanner Wells, Joseph, Destiny, Nathaniel, Emily, and Kai Blake; two step-grandchildren: Brian and Adelynn Forcier; five siblings: Steven (Susan) Blake of Aurora, Kenneth (Jody) Blake of Makinen, Wayne Blake of Little Fork, Jeanne (Rocky) Stygar of Melbourne, FL, and Barb (Jerry) Jenson of the Twin Cities; three half-sisters: Brenda Blake, Debbie Cilz, and Anita Scheffelmear; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and close friends. He was preceded in death by his father, James Blake; his mother, Maxine Maki; and a half-brother, Pete Blake.