Obituary for Samuel E. Blue Samuel E. Blue died on June 5, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. as a result of a fall while walking his beloved dog, Daisy. As in life, he was surrounded by family and friends at his passing.
Sam was born on July 3, 1926 in Johnstown, Pa. to Florence Downey Blue and Paul Emerson Blue. He grew up in St. Paul Minn.
on Ashland Avenue and graduated from St. Paul Central in 1944. He played football, hockey and participated in track and field where he was a pole vaulter, high jumper and discus thrower. When he joined the Navy during WWII he needed his mother’s signature because he was only 17.
He attended basic training in Couer d‘Alene, Idaho and later, Aviation Ordinance School where he trained as a rear gunner on torpedo bombers. The war ended before he was deployed to the Pacific Theater. After the war Sam attended the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1945.
It was there that he met Miss Barbara Cushman in a math class, took her out to Baskin Robbins and started a romance that lasted until her death 42 years later. In 1949, Sam studied for the Building Inspector Exam and scored so highly that he became the youngest Building Inspector hired by the City of St. Paul. Sam retired in 1984 with the position of Supervisor of Inspections, responsible for all building code enforcement for the city.
In 1969, the family needed a change from the home he built on Como Golf Course in St. Paul so they looked for a home in Red Wing. His childhood friend and business partner Dick Tittle suggested an apple orchard outside of town. Being a city kid and knowing nothing about apples, Sam and Barbara purchased Flower Valley Orchards and the property’s farmhouse.
Years later he said, “If that house was in St. Paul I would have had it condemned”. He saw past that and knew the potential the orchard had for his family. After retiring from the City of St. Paul, Sam worked the family orchard, and volunteered for AARP doing tax work for seniors.
He was a member of Noontime Kiwanis and a member of Christ Episcopal Church. Sam stayed very active until his death with two coffee groups (conservative and liberal), Kiwanis, chair YOGA, working out at Snap Fitness, and walking his dog. He was better at technology than some of his grandchildren; he had a laptop, iPad, Fitbit, and always the latest iPhone.
Above all else, Sam loved his family. He loved the large monthly family dinners that overwhelmed waitresses at local restaurants. He loved the family vacation in Northern Wisconsin where for 22 years the large group would descend on Boyd’s Mason Lake Resort for a week of fishing and relaxing.
For 50 years Flower Valley Orchards, or as it’s known to family “The Orchard,” has been and continues to be where the family meets to celebrate holidays. As Sam got older the part he loved most was watching his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren interact and love each other as they enjoyed the legacy that he and Barbara created. He is survived by his four children, Thomas Emerson (Janet Polski) Blue of Ellsworth, Wisc.
, Mary Blue (Mark) Birrittella of Chippewa Falls, Wisc. , John Cushman (Maureen) Blue of Red Wing and Sarah Kolsem (Marcus Witt) Blue of Red Wing; daughter-in-law, Mary Endert Blue of Salmo, British Columbia; 15 grandchildren, Bill Sympson, Arwen Scheibe, Katherine George, Sam D. Blue, Missi Blue, Angela Birrittella, Thomas Blue, Paul Birrittella, Nick Blue, Barbara Birrittella, Sheila Lippert, Sarah Lippert, Laura Michlig, Shelby Cook and Ashley Lynn; nine great grandchildren, Wyatt, Hunter, Colton, Evan, Izzy, Bowie, Pearl, George and Cora; one brother, John Paul (Gary Behnke) Blue of Bradenton, Fla. and special friends Kay and Dick Lippert of Cottage Grove, Minn.
He is preceded in death by wife, Barbara; daughter, Barbara Sympson and son, William Blue. A Celebration of Life of will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 16, 2018 at Christ Episcopal Church with Father Tristan English officiating. A visitation will be 4 – 7 p.m., Friday, June 15, 2018 at Christ Episcopal Church in the Parish Hall.
Memorials are preferred to Stout University Foundation, c/o STEPS for Girls Program, 320 S. Broadway St. Menomonie, WI 54751. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Samuel E. Blue please visit our Sympathy Store.
Upcoming Events Visitation 2018 JUN 15. 04:00 PM – 07:00 PM Christ Episcopal Church 321 West Avenue Red Wing, MN, US, 55066 Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Samuel’s Visitation begins. Celebration of Life 2018 JUN 16.
10:30 AM Christ Episcopal Church 321 West Avenue Red Wing, MN, US, 55066 Order Flowers for the Celebration of Life Guaranteed delivery before Samuel’s Celebration of Life begins.
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