Julius Blenkle

Julius Blenkle, age 87, of Grants Pass, died Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at Three Rivers Medical Center.

A funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 30, 2013 at Hull & Hull Chapel. Interment will follow with military honors at Granite Hill Cemetery.

Julius was born April 7, 1926 in Blackfoot, Idaho to Markus & Anna Blenkle. He grew up in Blackfoot and at the age of 18 in 1944 he joined the United States Army. He fought in the battle at Okinawa, Japan receiving among other honors, the Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged in 1946. On March 10, 1955 he married Pauline Anglesey. They lived in Utah before moving to Grants Pass in 1965. He worked as a machinist for Oregon Tech products until he retired at the age of 62.

Julius was a member of Southern Oregon Steamers and attended St. Anne Catholic Church since 1965. He volunteered with Rural Fire Department in Merlin.

He owned and flew his own airplane and built and flew an ultra light airplane. He also built and operated a train that is currently at the train park in Medford. He loved model planes and trains.

Survivors include four daughters, Linda Rigolot of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Rebecca Dollarhide of Grants Pass, Oregon, Teresa Koster of Tigard, Oregon, and Mary Beaton of Grants Pass, Oregon; a son, Randy Blenkle of Post Falls, Idaho; a sister, Patsy of Florida; a brother, Vincent Blenkle of Phoenix, Arizona; ten grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.