Mark Allen Blew

Mark Allen Blew, the son of Merle and Jean (Garman) Blew, was born on May 10, 1957, in Pittsburg, Kansas, and died Tuesday, May 5, 2009, after a short illness in Mankato, Kansas, at the age of 51 years, 11 months, and 25 days.

Mark graduated from Mankato High School in 1975. He entered the United States Army on November 13, 1984, and was with the 116th Infantry Division as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems Mechanic. He was a veteran of the Persian Gulf War and was part of the Kuwait Liberation force. Mark was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze stars; and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post No. 7830 of Mankato, Kansas.

Following his discharge in 1992, Mark returned to Mankato and joined his father in the family business. Mark was an avid reader, loved history, collecting rare coins, hotrods and anything mechanical.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Clarence and Golden Blew and Robert and Helen Garman, Sr.

Survivors include his parents – Merle and Jean Blew of Mankato, Kansas; sister – Linda Beckwith of Manhattan, Kansas; brother – Larry Blew of Formoso, Kansas; nephews – Jeremy Page and his family of Joplin, Missouri, and Nathan Page and his family of Manhattan, Kansas.

A celebration of Mark A. Blew life will be Friday, May 15, 2009, at 11:00 a.m., at the Harmony United Methodist Church, Mankato, Kansas, with Pastor Tessa Zehring officiating. Inurnment will be in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato, Kansas, with military Honors by United State Army Honor Guard of Fort Riley, Kansas, and V.F.W. Post No. 7830, Mankato, Kansas. The family suggests memorials be given in Mark’s memory to V.F.W. Post No. 7830, Mankato, Kansas. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.