Rex Chinn Blanchard

Rex Blanchard

Rex Chinn Blanchard, 78, was born August 13, 1934 in Powersville, MO. Rex died December 1, 2012 at the Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, MO. His parents were Cecil and Fern Chinn Blanchard who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kay Wiemers Blanchard of rural Powersville, MO daughter Vicki and son-in-law Rick Walter of Nevada, IA, son Wesley and wife Lynn Blanchard and their children, Adam, Daniel, and Anna of Indianola, IA, grandson Joel Walter of College Station, TX, and grandson Mathew Walter of Cedar Rapids, IA. He is also survived by his brother, Leedrue and wife JoAnn Blanchard of Nevada, IA, brothers-in-law Gene and wife Jane Wiemers of Melbourne, IA and Cal and wife Denny Wiemers of Folsom, CA as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.
Rex attended various rural schools in Putnam County and attended school in Powersville until it closed in 1950. He graduated from the Unionville High School in 1951 and from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1955 with a degree in Animal Science. While in college he and Kay met and were active in the Wesley Foundation. They were married June 9, 1955 in Melbourne, IA. They spent 6 months in Ithaca, NY where Rex was employed by Doane Appraisal Service prior to his 6 months active duty at Ft. Sill, OK. Together they began farming in Marshall County, IA in 1957. Rex was active in his church and was instrumental in the formation of the Marshall County Cattlemen’s Association and the Marshall County Pork Producers. He enjoyed years of coon hunting and he and Kay were avid square dancers.
In 1979 they moved back to Rex’s home state and in 1981 to his home county. In 1987 they moved to their present location west of Unionville. Their move to MO was driven by Rex’s desire to raise cattle. He ran cow-calf pairs for 15 years. In recent years he became well-known for the quality of his bred heifers.
Rex was a member of the Bangor-Liberty Friends Church, Union, IA, an associate member of the United Methodist Church, Unionville, MO and was a life-time member of the University of Missouri Alumni Association.
Visitation will be held Wednesday evening, Dec. 5th between the hours of 5:00-7:00pm at the Playle & Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO. Funeral Services will be Thursday, Dec. 6th at 10:00am at the United Methodist Church, Unionville, MO. Family graveside services will be at the Bangor Cemetery with a Celebration of Life/Visitation to follow at 4:00pm at the Bangor-Liberty Friends Church in Union, IA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to either the Unionville United Methodist Church or the Bangor-Liberty Friends Church and may be entrusted to the Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.