Submitted by: Dan Rich

Verna J. Blad

May 11, 1915 - March 6, 2002

South bend Tribune 3/8/2002

Verna Ruth Lois (Johnson) Blad, 86, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away at 3:40 a.m. on Wednesday, March 6, in her home. She was born May 11, 1915, in Chicago, Ill., to Arvid and Jennie Johnson. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Arvid K. (Jim) Johnson; and by a son, Wayne A. Blad. At the age of 13 she was a soprano soloist at Roseland M.E. Church, Chicago. She graduated from Christian Fenger High School, Chicago, in 1933.

On Feb. 8, 1936, she married Martin Blad at the Roseland M.E. Church in Roseland, Ill. Verna is survived by her husband, Martin; her three sisters, Lynette Ball of South Bend, Ind., Mildred Muhlburg of Punta Gorda, Fla., and Shirley Williamson of South Bend; a sister-in-law, Stephanie Johnson of Cincinnati, Ohio; two children, Larry M. (Jeanne) Blad of South Bend and Janis (Don E.) Hile of South Bend and Fishers, Ind. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Marti C. Blad, Kristin Blad, Brent (Paula) Burkus, Eric (Alesia) Blad and Christopher Blad, all of South Bend; and by three great-grandchildren, Caitlin and Zachary Burkus, and Alex Blad.

Verna and Martin began farming in the South Bend area in the early 1940s. She devoted her life to her family and was a member of Grace United Methodist and Community Baptist Churches, the American Bible Society, the South Bend Symphony League, the Women's Art League, and the Michiana Arts and Sciences Council. She was a member of Signal Point Golf Club, Niles, Mich., past president of the Signal Point Women's Golf Group and South Bend Country Club Bridge Club, and was a past director of Memorial Hospital Women's Auxiliary.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 9th, in the Community Baptist Church, 5715 Miami Road, with Dr. Bud Steadman officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today, March 8th, in the Welsheimer Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Camp Millhouse, 25600 Kelly Road, South Bend, IN 46614; or to Community Baptist Church, 5715 Miami Road, South Bend, IN 46614.