Leo Bernard Blodgett

Leo Bernard Blodgett, Jr. passed away May 13, 2023, after heart surgery in a Portland hospital.  He was born on October 20, 1949, to Leo, Sr. and Marjorie DeFoer Blodgett, in Vancouver, WA.  He grew up in Washougal, WA, where he was known as Butch. He played a variety of school sports and learned fishing skills (especially fly-fishing) from his father and his Grandpa Albert DeFoer. Hunting was also a pastime, and as an adult, he enjoyed training black labs as hunting dogs. He played piano through his school years, and learned watercolor painting as a teen.

Leo attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, and studied in Florence, Italy, with the Gonzaga-in-Florence program, 1969-70. While studying abroad, he met his future wife, fellow student Martha Elizabeth Igert. The couple married in Paducah, Kentucky, on August 28, 1971. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2021.

After Leo retired from Industrial Tool sales and vending sales, he had more time for fishing and for acting and singing with community theatre and vocal groups. He was most recently involved with Cora Voce, an adult choir, performing in the Puget Sound region. He was very pleased to watch his grandchildren also enjoy singing and acting.

Leo’s other interests were spending time at the beach (particularly Seaview, on the Longbeach Peninsula), cooking, following weather reports, traveling on river cruises, and providing natural habitat for birds and other wildlife. His family, his church, his friends, and his Gracious Lord were the treasures in his life.

He is survived by his wife Martha, his son Jon (Erin) Blodgett, his daughter Tiffany (Kyle) Carlson, his sister Cathy (David) Larsen-Smalley, grandsons Brenden and Jason Blodgett, Gabriel and Nathaniel Carlson, and granddaughter Madelyn Carlson.

Leo’s Memorial Service will be held at Calvary Presbyterian Church, Sunday, June 11, 2023, at 4 P.M. Donations in his memory may be made to American Rivers, the American Heart Association, or Calvary Presbyterian Church’s choir fund.

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