Arleath M. Blunck (Norfolk/Osmond)

NORFOLK– Services for Arleath Blunck, of Norfolk will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Osmond, NE. Ashburn Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

She passed away Monday, March 18, 2013 at her home, surrounded by her children, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Arleath Ann Stratton was born on May 22, 1934 at Osmond, NE to Oren and Helen (Theisen) Stratton. She grew up in Osmond and graduated from Osmond High School in 1951.

On June 4, 1952 she was united in marriage to Norman Wayne Blunck at Osmond. To this union, 4 children were born; sons, Craig and Jeffrey and daughters, Norma Jean and Cheryl.

Upon Norman’s discharge from the service, the couple started a career in farming north of Osmond and remained active in farming and livestock production until the late 1980’s when the couple purchased the NAPA Auto Parts Store and started Norm’s Used Cars in Osmond. In 1969 Arleath became an administrative assistant at Osmond Community Schools and served in that capacity until her retirement in 1995.

Arleath was active in her community, serving in various capacities at her church, Osmond senior center and the Osmond alumni board. She was a longtime member of American Legion Post 326 Auxiliary and served on the Osmond Hospital Foundation Board for many years.

In 2010, she moved to Norfolk to be closer to her husband, Norman, who was residing at the Norfolk Veterans Home.

Arleath loved to travel, enjoying the sights in different parts of the country. She was an avid book reader, birdwatcher, scrap booker and genealogist. She could spend hours working on crossword puzzles.

She was a doting grandmother to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, attending countless school and athletic activities. For many years, she drove a mini van, commonly referred to as Grandma’s taxi.

Arleath will be remembered for her unwavering faith in her savior and having a penchant for being a meticulous organizer and a good listener. She was blessed with many friends throughout her life, always willing to lend a helping hand or give a ride to anyone that needed one.

Survivors include her children, son Craig Blunck of Norfolk, NE, son Jeffrey and wife Mary Blunck of Ft Collins, CO, daughter Norma Jean Fuelberth of Ennis, TX, daughter Cheryl and husband Meril Friedrich of Osmond, NE, 10 grandsons, 1 granddaughter, 6 great grandchildren, and her brothers, Jim Stratton of Norfolk and Byron Stratton and wife, Patsy of Guthrie, OK.

Arleath was preceded in death by her parents in 1985; husband, Norman in 2011 and a brother, Jack in the 1970’s.

The family requests that memorials be bequeathed to Immanuel Lutheran Church, The Osmond Hospital or the Osmond Senior Center.