Benjamin Luther Blackburn's Obituary
Benjamin Luther Blackburn, 93, passed away September 22, 2019 at Lincolnshire Place in Decatur IL.
Ben was born May 13, 1926 in Topeka KS to Charles and Josephine (Livers) Blackburn. He served in the South Pacific with the US Navy in World War II and later graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He married Virginia Titus on May 29, 1949 and enjoyed 45 happy years with Ginny until her death in 1994. He later married Thelma (Frazee) Heiland on July 18, 1997 and spent another 21 wonderful years with her until her death in 2018. Ben had a long career with Kansas Power & Light and Illinois Power Company. He was a longstanding member of First Lutheran Church and Golden K Kiwanis in Decatur.
Ben is survived by his daughter Lee Ann Krigbaum and husband Dan of Westminster CO; son Brian Blackburn and wife Amy of Decatur IL; step-daughter Kris Sites and husband Dick of Decatur IL; grandsons John Krigbaum and wife Taryn of Silver Spring MD, Tim Krigbaum and wife Rachel of Kansas City KS; David Krigbaum and wife Ashlyn of Ruskin FL; Charlie Blackburn of Decatur IL, and Jake Blackburn of Decatur IL; granddaughter JoBeth Page and husband Zach of Harristown IL; great grandchildren John Bradley, Leah, and Emma Krigbaum, and Brennan and Hudson Page; brother-in-law Jim Beasom; and sister-in-law Joyce Dye and husband Everett.
Ben was preceded in death by wives Virginia Blackburn and Thelma Blackburn; daughter Martha Jane Blackburn, sisters Ruth Blackburn, Margaret Blackburn, Mary (Hap) Klein, and Virginia Beasom; and brothers Robert (Dorothy) Blackburn, Wilson (Alice) Blackburn, and Phil Blackburn.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 28 at First Lutheran Church in Decatur IL followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am. Internment at Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka KS will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Scovill Zoo, the Alzheimer’s Association, or Lincolnshire Place.
Special thanks to the staffs of Imboden Creek Gardens and Lincolnshire Place for their years of wonderful care.
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