Leo E. Blair Jr.

ROCK FALLS – Leo E. Blair Jr. 88 and a long time area Funeral Director/Embalmer, died Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at Northwest Medicine – Delnor Hospital in Geneva, IL.

He was born on August 14, 1931 in Galt, the son of Leo E. and Edna (Hahn) Blair Sr., and was a veteran of the Korean War having served in the US Air Force. He was a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago. He married Joan Knabe on September 10, 1958 in Glen Ellyn, IL. She died April 7, 2011.

Leo began his over 50 year career in funeral service at the former Allen Funeral Home in Sterling and had worked for period of time at funeral homes in Freeport. He returned back to Sterling and later became a partner in the Behrens Mortuary (which was located down town Sterling next to the library) and in time renaming it the Behrens-Blair Funeral Home and later the Blair Funeral Home. Throughout his career in funeral service, Leo operated an ambulance service connected with the funeral homes that provided care to communities of Sterling and Rock Falls. He was a past member of the Sterling Kiwanis Club and had worked with United Way. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and attending his family and grandchildren’s events.

Surviving are his eight children, Julie (Ted) Reese, Jeff Kindle, Susan (Ruben) Vasquez, Alan (Cheri) Blair, Karen (Jim) Paris, Jill Blair, Jan (Eddie) Dominguez and Eric (Beth) Blair; his sister, Beverly (Mel) Stern; his brother, James (Marilyn) Blair; 17 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; parents; his sister, Marilyn Isenhart; and a granddaughter, Stephanie Rivera.

Graveside services with military honors will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Oak Knoll Memorial Park in Sterling, with the Reverend Dalmus Meeks officiating. There will be no visitation.

Arrangements by the McDonald Funeral Homes.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established.