Alfred J. Blickensderfer's Obituary
Alfred J. Blickensderfer, 78, of Decatur, passed away on Friday, May 6, 2016 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Al was born on September 3, 1937 in Knoxville, TN the son of Alfred and Virginia (Womble) Blickensderfer. He graduated from West High School in Knoxville, TN in 1954 and was a member of the National Honor Society. He was an accomplished pianist and at a young age he played for a dance band and choral groups during his high school years. He also played violin and played in the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra while a student at the University of Tennessee and also played trombone in the marching band. While in college he was awarded the Van Vactor Award for composition and received a B.A. in Theory and Composition in 1959. After graduating from UT he attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN where he met his wife, Shirley Ann. He began his teaching career in Kane, PA in 1961. He completed his studies for a degree in Music Education at IU the summer of 1962 and married Shirley Ann, on August 18, 1962 in Indianapolis, IN. They moved to Buffalo, NY where he taught at Amherst Central High School in Amherst, NY and played in the Amherst Symphony Orchestra and the Niagara Falls Orchestra. His music career was varied and included positions in Elkhart, IN, Hubbard, OH, and finally in Decatur, IL, for District #61. Wherever he taught he played in the community orchestras and also was an adjunct professor of violin at Millikin University. He also played viola in the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra and the Messien Quartet. He enjoyed playing in a quartet with Leo Pondelick for weddings and other string ensembles for various church celebrations.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church wherever he lived and in Buffalo, NY he was an active member of Central Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon. In Decatur, IL he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
Al was a loving husband who always brought his wife, Shirley Ann, a rose every Friday. He was a true family man and shared household activities, cooking, cleaning, and enjoyed yard work. Whenever one of their children was born he stayed home to care for the children at home. If Shirley Ann was working when the children had religion classes at the Catholic Church, he always drove them to the class. He loved his children and supported them in whatever they pursued in life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and step-mother Wilma Blickensderfer.
Surviving are his wife, Shirley Ann; brother, John Blickensderfer (Barbara) of Philadelphia, PA; four children: son, Chris Blickensderfer (Leah) of Milford, OH; daughters, Kathryn Venezia (Dan) of Rhinelander, WI; Jennifer Myers (Guy) of Decatur, IL; Susan Yockey (David) of Arlington, VA; grandson, Harrison Riddle of Decatur, IL; granddaughters, Kim Myers of Kalamazoo, MI; and Lindsey Myers of Niangua, MO; and several great-grandchildren.
Funeral Service to celebrate Al’s life will be 11 AM Wednesday, May 11, 2016 in Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Visitation will be 10-11 AM Wednesday in the funeral home. Burial will be in North Fork Cemetery in Long Creek Twp, IL. Memorials are suggested to MDSO, Millikin School of Music or First Presbyterian Church.
The family of Alfred J. Blickensderfer is being served by Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Avenue, Decatur, IL. Send condolences to the family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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