Bittersweet

We all knew this day was coming, but it breaks your heart nonetheless.

My amazing father-in-law passed away on March 9.  He was almost 89 years old.  He struggled for many years with his health, but he hung in there!  He was a fighter, a World War II veteran, a hard-working farmer who worked every day of his life.

He will be missed.  I was sad to see him go.

But happy at the same time that he is finally rid of his debilitating body.  Free now.

I'm happy, too, that he's moved on to a better place with his parents and other family members who have passed on.

Our knowledge of the Plan of Salvation sustains us.

Every minute of every day.

Rosemary and Clair's seven sons and three daughters.

Everybody with their respective spouse.

 Clair in the Navy during World War II.

 Clair and Rosemary on their wedding day, November 1945.

 Full military rites were provided at the graveside.  It was very touching.  Nothing short of emotional for everybody.  A fitting tribute for an honorable father and grandfather. 

 Taps.

 Jason dedicated the grave.  I was so proud of him.

 The bagpiper was the final touch.  He played "Abide With Me," and "Amazing Grace."  Beautiful.

Obituary:

Clair Ernest Blaser, 88, of Rexburg, died at home Friday, March 9, 2012.

He was born March 23, 1923, in Plano, Idaho, to Margaret and Ernest Blaser, the eldest son and fourth child in a family of eight children. He attended elementary school at Edmunds and graduated from Edmunds High School and then from Ricks College in 1942.

It was at Ricks that he met his lifelong sweetheart, Rosemary Polson of Shelley. He served three years in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and while on leave, he and Rosemary were married in the Logan, Utah, LDS temple Nov. 9, 1945.

They settled in Plano to raise their family and to farm. In 1951, he was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Western states, leaving his wife and three small children at home. He returned in September 1953, and continued farming and expanding his dairy. Seven more children were added to the family in the following years.

Clair loved to teach and learn, so he returned to school and received his bachelor's and master's degrees at Utah State University. He started teaching horticulture and religion at Ricks College and continued for 27 years.

He served in many church capacities, he loved his cows and continued working hard to the end of his life.

He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved telling his jokes to all who would listen. He was very generous to anyone who had a need. He will be missed by his wife, children, 48 grandchildren and 49 great-grandchildren. We love you, and are so grateful for the many ways you've touched our lives.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Blaser of Rexburg; and children, Greg (Kira) Blaser of Rexburg, Stephen (Ann) Blaser of Blackfoot, Rebecca (Thayne) Andersen of Bluffdale, Utah, Scott (Melody) Blaser of Las Vegas, Barbara Blaser of Magna, Utah, Teresa (Byron) Blakely of Ririe, Howard (Tonya) Blaser of Pocatello, Robert (Melanie) Blaser of Centerville, Utah, Marty (Stacy) Blaser of Rexburg and Jason (Diana) Blaser of Boerne, Texas. He is also survived by four siblings, Gladys (Louis) Rasmussen, Elaine Beard, Roland Blaser and Fred (Linda) Blaser.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, two sisters and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at noon Tuesday, March 13, at the Plano LDS church, with Bishop Randy Brown officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg and from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Tuesday at the church prior to services. Interment will be in Plano Cemetery, with military rites by the Madison Country Veterans and the Idaho Honor Guard.