Hazel A. Bleich

 Hazel Alma Bleich, 93, of Algona, passed away on Sunday, July 28, 2024, lovingly surrounded by her family. She leaves behind many family and friends who will miss her dearly. A funeral service took place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Algona, with burial followed at East Lawn Cemetery in Algona. A visitation was held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2, 2024, at the Trinity Lutheran Church Life Center. Lentz Funeral Home of Algona is assisted the family.

 

     Hazel was born December 29, 1930, in Irvington, Iowa, to Raymond and Dorothy (Hennings) Sankey. She had eight siblings and attended Rural Kossuth County Country School through the eighth grade. Hazel married Lewis Bleich on October 8, 1950, in Blue Earth, Minnesota. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage together and were blessed with 10 children who were the pride and joy of their lives. In addition to her life’s calling of motherhood, she worked tirelessly on the family farm planting crops, gardening, and raising animals. She also used her extraordinary caring and compassionate nature as a nurse’s aide.

 

     Hazel was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Algona and participated in the Ladies Circle cooking meals for new widows and widowers and their families. Her calling to serve others did not stop there as she volunteered at the hospital and nursing home in Algona. She enjoyed gardening, watching the wildlife that visited her bird feeders, going to the movies, and reading—she might have read every book in the Algona Public Library. She adored all animals but had a special place in her heart for her beloved American bulldog, Harley, two French bulldogs Ferguson and Quinnley, and several cats she rescued throughout the years. But what she loved most in life was spending time with family and friends, getting coffee with her sisters, and attending the Iowa State Fair each year to see the Butter Cow and eat a turkey leg. Her warm and welcoming demeanor allowed her to make friends with anyone, and she often joked that she had never met a stranger.

 

     Hazel was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. She was a loyal caregiver with a heart of gold and a loving mother, wife, sister, grandma, great-grandma, and great-great grandma who was incredibly proud of her immense family. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

 

     Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Bleich; their daughters Gloria Bleich and Becky Bleich; parents Raymond and Dorothy Sankey; siblings Ted Hennings, Ella (Rudy) Elbert, Dorothy Sankey, Robert (Betty) Sankey, Nellie Sankey, Raymond (Arlis) Sankey, Pauline (Herman) Sankey, and Delbert Sankey.

 

     Left to cherish her memory are her children Randy (Jan) Bleich of Pittsfield, IL; Merle (Sue) Bleich of St. Joe, IA; Susan (Dean) Wenthe of West Des Moines, IA; Carol (Bob) Capesius of Bode, IA; Kevin (Mary) Bleich of Algona, IA; Kelly (Nolan) Hutcheson of Garner, IA; Tina Bleich of Algona, IA; Scott (Angie) Bleich of Gilbert, IA; sister Margaret Sankey; several nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and friends.