Andrew "Andy" Blaschke

Blaschke, Andrew Lawrence, 88, passed away peacefully Friday evening, December 14, 2018.  Andy was born the second son of Edgar and Clover (Huckman) Blaschke on March 2, 1930, in Woodsboro, Texas.  He was raised on the family farm amid the great depression, where he was taught at an early age to grow and pick cotton, work on farm equipment, and tend to the animals on the farm.  After graduating from Woodsboro High School, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he served his country during the Korean War.  Andy was honorably discharged as Private First Class and from there went on to enroll at Texas A&I University in Kingsville.  While attending the University and working in a boarding house, he met the love of his life, a teacher from Austin, Texas named Helen Joyce Seiders.  The two were married on January 29, 1955.  After earning his degree in business, Andy began his longtime career with TXDOT, formerly known as the Texas Highway Department.  On November 11, 1955, the young couple had their first child and were the proud parents of Laurey Anne.  Five years later, on October 4, 1960, Andy and Helen were blessed with another little girl, Charlotte Marie.

Andy was an extremely affable and social person, who had no qualms telling you what he thought whether it was what you wanted to hear or not. The lessons he learned as a little boy growing up on the farm, made him a phenomenal gardener, especially with watermelons.  He loved working on and riding his tractors and being outdoors as often as he could.  The only time anyone ever saw him sitting down was when he was either eating or playing dominoes.

He constantly took on numerous civic duties and responsibilities; where he was either a president, chairman, or member of something at any given time.  Andy was a Boy Scout Master; a volunteer at the Family Crisis Center in Bastrop, where he helped establish a resale store, which in now called Bits and Pieces; a Census Taker, a job he loved because it provided ample opportunity for him to meet new people and socialize; a member of the German Club, the McDade VFW, and the Lutheran Brotherhood; and was Parade Chairman for the McDade Watermelon Festival.   Andy and his family were members of the Memorial Methodist Church and the Decker Methodist Church, and upon moving to McDade, they joined the Faith Lutheran Church.

Andy was a Precinct Judge for many years in Travis and later in Bastrop County after the family moved to McDade in 1976.  Andy ran several times for Bastrop County Commissioner and County Judge in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s.  Although he never was never successful in his bid for public office, he contributed immensely the Bastrop County government and served on the County Appraisal Board for several years.

Andy was preceded in death by both his parents; his wife of 52 years, Helen; his brother Edgar Blaschke, Jr.; and his grandson-in-law, Shane Osborne.
He is survived by his daughter Laurey and her husband, Steve Wolf; his daughter, Charlotte Horn; two grandsons, Stephen Wolf and Sam Horn and his wife Fidelia; his granddaughter, Megan Osborne and her husband Ryan Nalley; four great-grandchildren, Summer, Andrew, Benjamin, and Abigail; his sister, Virginia and her husband Eddie Staples of Donaldsonville, LA; two sister-in-laws, Doris Blaschke of Woodsboro and Doris Massey of Houston; and numerous nieces, nephews, and a whole host of dear friends.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Lucio and Susanna Leal for their priceless friendship and devotion; the staff of the SPJST Nursing Facility of Taylor for their loving care; and Resolutions Hospice for making his final days peaceful and comfortable.

Please make Memorial Contributions, in Andy’s Memory, to the Faith Lutheran Church of McDade; CASA of Bastrop, Lee, and Fayette Counties; McDade High School FFA; or any charity of your choosing.

The family will receive guests at the Elgin Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 18th from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.  A Funeral Service will be conducted at Elgin Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 19th at 10:00 AM.  Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas.