Donald Frank Blaese Sr.

Donald Frank Blaese, Sr. was born on April 21, 1931 in Berlin, NJ, the first child of Marie Margaret Deichert and Frank William Blaese. In 1950 Don married Vie Smith and they had a daughter, Donna. After a brief career in banking, he found work in a screw machine shop.  From that point on, the hum of machinery and the smell of oil would define his workplace and the manufacturing of parts for all industries would be his life’s work. He eventually started his own business, Accurate Screw Machine Products.

Don and Vie divorced and he married Lois Lamp’l in 1959. They had 3 children: Monique, Don Jr. and Niccole, all raised in Columbus, NJ. The Blaese home was often filled with friends, laughter, parties and music. On Saturday nights, Don and Lois were often found at Columbus Inn where Don wooed the crowd with his Sinatra-like voice. An avid outdoorsman, Don enjoyed hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling. Don and Lois traveled the world and each summer, the family climbed into their camper to traverse the US. They traveled to nearly every state, visiting friends, making friends and discovering and enjoying the beauty of the country.

While Don loved his life in Columbus, the peace and spaciousness of the western landscape beckoned. In 1988 they moved to Sandpoint, Idaho. Don and his son opened Another Screw Machine Products and he started another chapter of his long life.

Sadly, Lois, his wife of 43 years and the center of his life, unexpectedly died in 2002. Don was  heart-broken but with the support of his family, friends and the community at Northside Christian Fellowship, he found purpose again. He kept himself busy with his family, his business, hunting and all of the outdoor activities he loved his whole life. He had many years of companionship with Emma (Sis) Schmidt until her death in 2018.

In 2019 Don met Diana Lucanto and found love again. Their time together was too quick, however. In late September Don was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and peacefully passed on October 14, 2020.  His family and friends will always remember him as a faithful, gentle and loving man who had a long, productive and blessed life.