Edna Eddi Blakley

Edna "Eddi" Blakley, 70, of Viola, died Saturday, July 2, 2016. Eddi Blakley was born in Richland Center, WI on March 22, 1946. She was raised and spent her entire childhood on the family farm on Spangler Ridge Road where she was affectionately known as Peewee by her father. She graduated as a member of the last class to graduate from West Lima High School. She then attended college in Minneapolis, MN and later La Crosse, WI attaining degrees in Biology and Chemistry. She married Dale Blakley Jr. and they had two children, "her boys," Darby and Dan. Together they owned and operated the Blakley Hardware in Viola, WI. Following their divorce Eddi put her degrees to work serving many communities in the area as a Lab and X-ray Technician. She was known and admired by many as an extremely hard worker and someone who was always willing to help those in need in any way possible. She donated her time to many projects in the area and she particularly enjoyed working with her very good friend Jerry Green on different parts of the Viola and Horse and Colt Show. She took great pride in maintaining her property on Elk Run and became a steward for the Kickapoo Valley through her cabins which helped her share the area she embraced and loved with people from all over the country. One of her last major projects was the purchase and renovation of the Elk Run School House. She believed in preserving the past and sharing it with as many people as possible. One of her great joys in life was traveling throughout the state with her very special friend, Tor Eness, and dancing to live music as often as possible. She fiercely loved her boys and her daughters in law Erin and Kristy. She also shared an extremely close bond that will never be broken with her grandchildren Quincy, Kalia, Claira, Sutton and Louisa. She was loved and respected by many for devoting her life to others and always putting their needs before her own. Her love and compassion for her family and friends and her community of the Kickapoo Valley will continue to live on. She will be forever be missed but will never be forgotten. Edna is survived by her mother, Ruth Spangler; two sons: Dan (Kristy) and Darby (Erin) Blakley; her grandchildren; siblings: Deana (Wilmer) Holak, Ira (Roberta) Spangler, and Grover (Pam) Spangler; as well as her nieces and nephews: Hugh, Travis, Steve, Amy, Lucas, and Cari. She was preceded in death by her father, Gordon Spangler. Funeral Services will be held at 1pm on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at the Elk Run School on Elk Run Rd. Burial will be in the Manning Cemetery with a luncheon and music to follow at the Elk Run School. Friends may call at the school from 10am till the time of service at 1. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Kickapoo Class of '94 Scholarship Fund or the Viola Rescue Squad Online Condolences may be offered at www.VossFH.com The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Viola is serving the family.