Nancy Lorraine (Klingenberg) Blau

Nancy Lorraine Blau, age 86 of Reading, MN passed away at South Shore Care Center in Worthington on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.

Nancy was born in Rock Rapids, Iowa on March 15, 1936 to Ray and Nancy (Klingenberg) Sudenga. Nancy’s mother died during childbirth, and now with Ray already having other children to raise, decided to have Nancy adopted by her uncle, William Klingenberg and his wife, Martha (Hassebroek). Nancy grew up on the farm near George, Iowa where she attended country school through the eighth grade. It was at a church picnic in which she met and eventually married Frederick D. Blau, also of George, on February 1, 1954. After Fred returned from serving in the Korean War, he and Nancy farmed in several communities in Northwest Iowa including Sibley, Ocheyden and Harris. It was in Northwest Iowa that Fred and Nancy raised their six children before buying a farm near Reading, MN in 1972 and moving there in 1975. Nancy was primarily a homemaker, but she did work for a few years at Priebe’s Poultry Processing Plant in Sibley, Iowa and Campbell’s Soup in Worthington, MN. Nancy enjoyed going to the casino, gardening and growing beautiful flowers. In her earlier years, she did quite a bit of cooking, canning and helping Fred around the farm. Family gatherings were a highlight of Nancy’s life.

She is survived by sons, Elray (Julie), Alvin “Al” (Julie) & Mark (Jodi); daughters, Dawn Noerenberg & Janet (Jerry Reyes) Bakker; grandchildren, Jennifer & Lacy Blau, Allison, Emily, & Angela Blau, Melissa (Tyler) Quinn, Christina, Matthew (Elizabeth), & Casey Noerenberg, Michael, Joseph, Christopher & Daniel Bakker, Amanda (Matt) Langland; step-grandchildren, Bradley, Steven (Carissa), Sara & Travis (Harlie) Swanson; 6 great-grandchildren; 8 step great-grandchildren; brothers, Lawrence & Larry (Ruth) Klingenberg; many nieces, nephews, other relatives & friends.

Preceded in death by husband, Frederick; daughter, Wanda; parents, William & Martha Klingenberg; brother, Claus Klingenberg; & sisters-in-law, Alma Klingenberg & Sara Klingenberg.

Funeral Service Friday, March 25th at 11:00 AM at Bethel Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 19816 Moser Avenue, Reading, MN 56165.

Visitation Thursday, March 24th from 5:00 – 7:00 PM and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Interment Friday, March 25th at 3:00 PM at Zoar Presbyterian Cemetery, rural George, Iowa.

Memorials preferred to Bethel Evangelical Presbyterian Church.