John Joseph Blaz's Obituary
John Joseph Blaz unexpectedly passed into eternal rest on June 10, 2023. He was 71. His family is deeply saddened by his sudden death.
John was born on April 29, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, the second of seven children of the late Chester J. Blaz and Margaret Mary (Calhoun) Blaz. He was raised in Mundelein, Illinois, and attended Santa Maria Del Popolo Catholic grade school. He attended Carmel High School where he led the 1968-1969 basketball team in stats, was the most valuable player and unanimously voted into the Catholic Suburban All Star Team. He was offered an athletic scholarship for basketball to DePaul University, but chose a private college in Illinois, Mac Murray College, where he made lifelong friends.
After graduating from Mac Murray College, he worked as a cost accountant for the next 40 years. Early in his career, while working for the Hoffman Group, John met his bride, Claudia Burke. They were married June 16, 1979, and children quickly followed. Son, Christopher, was born in October, 1980. In 1984, they moved from the Windy City to Salt Lake City, Utah, where John worked for Becton Dickinson. Daughter, Sarah, was born in September, 1984, and daughter, Jessica, followed in November, 1986. In 2002, they moved to the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona.
John was an athlete and enjoyed playing basketball, softball and golf. John shared his love of athletics with his children, coaching them in various competitive sports teams. He coached baseball and soccer. He was in his element when he was coaching. He would spend hours on the field in practice and games and off the field working on strategies for his competition teams. The family traveled to tournaments both in state and out of state routinely.
John endeared himself to others with his dry sense of humor, quick wit and one liners. If you were around John, you couldn’t help but laugh as he could find humor in the most mundane life circumstances. He was the life of every party. In college, his antics were legendary and his college buddies remember him for his entertaining shenanigans and pranks. The funny stories his family remembers would give any sitcom a run for their money.
John was the beloved “Duba” to his five grandchildren who he devoted himself to. He loved being with them -- whether rocking the babies, going to parks, entertaining them with fascinating animal facts, word games, or just playing with them. The boys will especially remember their favorite, “rumbling.” They adored him; he made it fun.
John is predeceased by his parents, Chet and Maggie Blaz. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Claudia; his children, Christopher Blaz, Sarah Blaz, and Jessica (KC) Scott; his grandchildren Olivia Blaz, Ian Scott, Jacob Scott, Evelyn Scott and Juliette Scott; his six siblings, Anne Marie Blaz, Joseph Blaz, Mary Beth (Jim) Tully, Peggy (Ray) Josupait, Theresa (Ron) Grant, and Jimmy (Nancy) Blaz; 14 much loved nieces and nephews, as well as one aunt, and five cousins.
John, you were loved by many and will be forever in our hearts -- until we meet again.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church 3350 E Knox Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85044, on Friday, June 30, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. with a Rosary prior to the service at 9:30 a.m.
Click here to view a memorial video for John - https://vimeo.com/836714954
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