Charles Blau

Charles Leslie Blau, age 91 passed away on Sunday, June 2nd, 2024, at the Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, KS. Some knew him as Charles or Chuck, but he was known as Charlie to his beloved community. 

Charlie was born October 5th, 1932, at the home of his Uncle Don and Aunt Annie in Russell Springs, KS; the last son of Louie and Julia (Rubottom) Blau. He grew up in southern Logan County where the Blau families homesteaded in 1885. Charles grew up with Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and four brothers. He helped with the farming and cattle from the time he was a small boy. Charles attended grade school at the Laurel School affectionately known as the “Blau School.” He went to high school in Leoti and graduated in 1950. He started farming for himself soon after he graduated.

On December 29th, 1959, he married Joyce Adele (Wonsetler) at the First Baptist Church in Leoti. They made their first home in Logan County near the Blau Ranch, starting their lives together farming and raising cattle. They later moved to the Wichita County farm where they shared 53 years of marriage before Joyce passed in 2013. Together they raised four children. Charlie was active in his community as a 4-H leader, Baptist Youth Fellowship leader, bus driver, deacon, and trustee for the First Baptist Church. He served his community as a board member for Camp Christy, the senior center, and many volunteer hours during the county fair. He always made time to visit with those in the nursing home and was a big fan of the Wichita County Athletic teams cheering them on from his seat at the top of the bleachers. He dearly enjoyed John Wayne movies, his Wednesday morning coffee group, and playing pitch down at the senior center.

Charlie will be fondly remembered for his faith in God, his genuine kindness, and his delightful sense of humor. We will miss his great stories and those one-liners that always made us laugh. Charles is survived by his daughter Charla (Ronald) Dunn of El Dorado, KS, son Steven (Lisa) Blau of Wichita, KS, daughter Cynthia (Mike) Mills of Iliff, CO, and daughter Trisha Blau of Fayetteville, AR. His pride and joy; Granddaughters Charisse Riddle, Julia Riddle, Kirsten Blau (engaged to August Fielding), Leslie Riddle, Kylee Blau, Sienna Dunn, grandson Garrett Mills, and great-grandson Henry Fielding, sister-in-law Mary Cannady, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Carl and Earl Wonsetler, brothers Martin (Albertine), Hale (Irene), Fritz (Marilla), and John (Joyce) Blau.

Please join us to celebrate and honor this great man and a well-lived life on Saturday, June 8th, 2024, at 10:30 at the First Baptist Church, 101 Carter Avenue, Leoti, Kansas with Pastor Gary Salmans presiding. Services will be livestreamed at priceandsons.com or https://evt.live/blauservice.

Visitation will be on Thursday, June 6, from 12:00 until 8:00 and on Friday, June 7, from 10:00 until 8:00 at the Price & Sons Funeral Home at 4th and J St. in Leoti, Kansas.

Interment will be at the Beulah Cemetery in North Eastern Wichita County following the funeral service.

Memorials may be given to the "Wichita County Amusement Association," "The Wichita County EMTs" or "First Baptist Church of Leoti" in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home, PO Box 161, Leoti, KS 67861.