Kathleen Annette Blackburn

Kathleen Annette Blackburn, 90, died at Diamond Willow in Proctor on February 22, 2014. She was born in Proctor on January 8, 1924 to Andrew Charles Marino and Delia Marie DeSautel Marino. After graduating from Proctor High School in 1942 she attended Comptometer School. On December 11, 1942, she married James Hunter Blackburn, whom she met in high school. During World War II they lived in Denver, Colorado and Ft. Myers, Florida, where Jim was stationed in the Army Air Force. After the war they returned home, and in 1952 settled on Fifth Street in West Duluth, where they raised their six children. In 1975 she and Jim moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Jim died in 1990. Kathleen returned to the Duluth area in 2001. Her first job was as an usher at the Date Theater in Proctor. She worked for many years at Bud's clothing store in downtown Duluth. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, active in PTA, and a past District Chair of the American Legion Auxiliary, 8th District. She was a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Lawrence Church and also at her former parishes St. James, in Duluth and St. Helena's in San Antonio, for which she was a founding member and a Monday Money Counter, and where she and Jim were named Family of the Year in 1984. Kathleen was an excellent seamstress. She loved to entertain, and set a beautiful table. She enjoyed playing cards with her Birthday Club. She always responded to music and loved reading novels. In Texas she became a daily walker. For decades the high point of her summer was renting a cabin at Kennedy's Resort on Elbow Lake. She loved sunshine and warm weather, and had a special way with babies and small children. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jim; daughter-in-law, Gillian Blackburn; her sister, Marguerite Young; brother, Joseph Marino; brothers-in-law, Franklin Young and Ronald Carlson; beloved grandson, Alex Blom; and special friend, Fred Royer. Kathleen is survived by her four daughters and two sons: Susan and Alan Hughes, Groesbeck, TX; Tim Blackburn and Jessica Richard, Winston-Salem, NC; Tom and Nikki Blackburn, San Antonio, TX; Jane and Warren MacDougall, Duluth; Nanette Blom and Jeff Hunt, Barnum; and Nancy and Steve Olson, Spooner, WI; daughter-in-law, Marsha Blackburn Shetterly, The Villages, FL; son-in-law, James Blom, Twig; sisters, Jean and Herb Royer, Duluth, and Jane Carlson, Aurora, CO; and sister-in-law, Jean Marino, Duluth. She leaves fourteen grandchildren: Peter Hughes, Brynn Ruiz, Julia Blackburn, Anne Cuneo, Norris Blackburn, Tracey Blackburn, Trevor Blackburn, Sanaz Ijoodpay, Jamie MacDougall, Seth MacDougall, Erin Blom, Austin Blom, Sam Olson, and Ben Olson. She had sixteen great-grandchildren: Alyssa Hughes Queen, Colin Hughes, Madeleine Hughes, Darragh Hughes, Ryan Ruiz, Eric Ruiz, Taryn Kate Ruiz, Fiona Cuneo, Charlie Cuneo, Brandon Blackburn, Parisa Ijoodpay, Warren MacDougall, Hunter Dreher, Arianna Dreher, Bailey Jo Blom and her baby brother due in March, and Ellie Olson. A Memorial Mass was held on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 in St. Lawrence Church, 2410 Morris Thomas Road, Duluth. Spring interment will be in Oneota Cemetery, Duluth. Memorials may be made to Proctor High School Band.