On Wednesday, February 8 th , 2023, there was a whisper in the wind and then there was quiet. The soul of Don Blattner, 72, of Bloomington, IL, went home to be with the angels. Don was born on December 20 th , 1950 to Clemens and Mavis (Hefter) Blattner in Fond Du Lac, WI. Don
graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, and a Master's degree in Business Administration.
He married Nancy (Dyer) Blattner on May 26th, 1973, in Fond Du Lac, WI, and they were blessed with two beautiful children, Heather Shannon and Ryan Matthew. His marriage to Nancy can only be described as two soul mates finding each other and building an incredible life together. Their children were a great source of pride and joy to them.

Throughout his 40 plus year career, encompassing multiple states including Wisconsin, Indiana, and Florida; Don exhibited a passion for the technology industry. He dedicated much of his professional life to working at IBM and John Deere, where he left a lasting impact on his colleagues and the companies he worked for.

Don had many passions in life including sports, photography, and movies. He spent much of his free time on the court or the green, where he made many friends and memories. He played collegiate tennis and instilled a love of golf in his son. In his latter years he dreamed of getting back on the court to play pickleball. He was a skilled player and a fierce competitor, but he was also known for his sportsmanship and his kindness towards others.

Don was a true dog lover and had a special place in his heart for all of his furry friends. He was blessed with many loyal companions throughout his life, including Duchess, Carmel, Kelly, Sammie, Cassie, Thor, Duke, and Gotham. These beloved dogs brought him endless joy and comfort and were a constant source of unconditional love. Don's devotion to his furry family was unwavering, and he will be remembered by all as a kind and caring animal lover.

Don battled heart disease for many years with unwavering courage and grace, and with the care from his amazing wife he persevered through many ups and downs. Despite the challenges he faced, Don never once complained and was always the first one to suggest attending the next big blockbuster.

Don was preceded in death by his daughter, Heather Shannon, his parents, his sister, Darlene (Blattner) Duescher, his brothers, Richard and Robert Blattner, and his niece, Melissa.

He is survived by his spouse, Nancy, his son, Ryan Matthew, Amber (Ahrens) Blattner, his grandson, Tyler Caden, his sister's-in-law, Judi and Mary Blattner, Judith (Stephen) Householder, Renee (David) Jensen, Sherry Dyer, and Marylin
Wurtz, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Don was so loved by his family and friends. He had a sense of humor second to none and could always be relied upon to do the unexpected. Life with Don was never dull, and when his soul went to heaven, he took a big part of our hearts with him. Please join us in celebrating his life, service times and locations will be announced at a later date.

In memory of Don, the family kindly requests that any donations be made in his name to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org/donate).

For those wishing to send flowers, please send to Serenity Meadows Funeral Home. Family and friends are invited to attend the wake, which will be held on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023 at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home (6919 Providence Road, Riverview, FL 33578). The funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 23rd, 2023 at St. Stephen Catholic Church (10118 Saint Stephen Circle, Riverview, FL 33569).