Walter Blasco Obituary

Walter J. Blasco

Walter J. Blasco, of Darien, IL, passed away on May 14, 2017, surrounded by family and friends.

The piano is silent. Wally, also known as "Whitey", had a closely knit family and many friends. He was a great family man, married in Berwyn, IL on January 10, 1953, for 64 years to Arlene A. Albrecht. The following year, as a bayonet instructor in the Army at Camp Gordon, GA, their daughter Christine was born. Daughter Nancy was born the next year at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, IL.

As a young man, Wally was a swimmer and lifeguard at Cermak Pool. He tap-danced on-stage for the Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour. 85 years of living life to the fullest, he was a natural born entertainer, singer and our piano man. He and his wife were always the first on the dance floor. They held many horseshoe pitching and pool parties. He was an avid golfer; at 80, he shot a hole-in-one! He was our family jester, always had a joke, even for his doctors. He was the life of the party and knew people no matter where he went. At 5pm, he'd say "Bar's Open". He loved his beer!

He was a construction worker then retired as a truck driver for Baker Motor Express in Downers Grove. He was a member of the Our Lady of Peace Parish choir for over 30 years and afterward was a lifetime member of the Western Springs Tower Chorale. He was an old-school gentleman and a man of respect.

Wally is survived by his loving wife, Arlene (nee Albrecht); his daughters, Christine (Jim) Garcia and Nancy (Ken) Gorman; his granddaughters, Jolene (Joey) Ruelle and Marlana Wheat (Mustafa Abdulateef); great-granddaughter, Emma; and great-grandson, David.