Mildred Blomquist

REEDSBURG/MIDDLETON - Mildred E. Blomquist, age 95, died peacefully at Reedsburg Area Senior Life Center on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. She was born in Chicago, Ill., on Feb. 11, 1927, to Marius and Else Pagard, who emigrated from Denmark in the early 1920s.

Mildred was raised in Chicago during the Great Depression, along with her sister, Helen Jean. She attended Paul Revere Elementary School and Emil G. Hirsch High School, meeting her future husband, Warren, in third grade. When Mildred was 10 years old, she traveled by ship with her parents and sister to Denmark and spent several weeks visiting her parents' families. After high school, she attended Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1948, Mildred married Warren Blomquist in Ames, Iowa, where he was studying Forestry. (They eloped!)

During their 57 years of marriage, Mildred and Warren followed Warren's career with the Wisconsin DNR around the state, living in five different communities: Wisconsin Rapids, Ripon, Wautoma, Oshkosh and Middleton. During this time, Mildred and Warren lovingly raised six children (five daughters and one son). They also traveled extensively throughout the United States, as well as Europe and Australia.

Mildred was a devoted wife and homemaker. She was the organizer extraordinaire behind the annual reunions at the family's beloved tree farm. She enjoyed listening to music of all kinds, from classical music and opera on Wisconsin Public Radio, to Tony Bennett, the Beatles, Josh Groban, and the songs of Irving Berlin and the Gershwins.

She played the piano and organ and encouraged all of her children to take piano lessons. Other favorite pastimes included watching movies, reading poetry, birdwatching, and identifying wildflowers. Her favorite treats included ice cream and all things chocolate.

Mildred's greatest gift was being a loving and giving mother, grandmother, and great- grandmother. She loved without judgment, favoritism, or condition. She instilled in her children a love of books and music, a sense of wonder for the natural world, and the importance of kindness, generosity, and gratitude. Mildred cared deeply about the well-being of others, near and far. She loved to laugh, and we will especially miss her gentle spirit and her beautiful smile. She will live in our hearts forever.

Mildred is survived by her six children, Nancy Bralick, Susan (Ed) Brinson, Judy (Frank) Brey, Liz Miller, Carolyn (Richard) Prussen and Robert (Sophie Beach). She is further survived by eight adoring grandchildren, Emily, Claire, Wyatt, Megan, Evan, Lauren, Freya and Alyssa; and three loving great-grandchildren, Benson, George and Hannah. Mildred also leaves behind brother-in-law, Paul Taylor; special nephew, Pete Taylor; beloved "sister" (cousin-in-law), Norma Weltzin; and longtime friends, Arleen Jensen and Sheila Byrnes.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Warren; sister, Helen Pagard; sister-in-law, Karen Taylor; and sons-in-law, Tony Bralick and Dan Steffen.

A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Family and friends who wish to view the service via LIVE STREAM may visit Mildred’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com and click on the Live Webcast link at 2 p.m. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Reedsburg Senior Life Center for their compassionate and loving care of Mildred, and the staff of Agrace HospiceCare for making her final days as peaceful and comfortable as possible.

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to the Alzheimer's and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, 6314 Odana Rd., Suite 4, Madison, WI 53719 or Wisconsin Public Radio, P.O. Box 88025, Milwaukee, WI 53288-8025. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761