Avis Marie Blach Willeke was born on May 30, 1918, the eldest of eight children born to Ambrose and Katie (Brand) Blach in Yuma, CO. She died on January 12, 2010 at the Colorado Plains Medical Center after a long fulfilled and wonderful life.

Avis attended the Hammond School and graduated from the Yuma High School in 1934. After attending college in Greeley for two years, she obtained a Rural Certificate. She taught one year at Pleasant Hill School northeast of Yuma for $80 a month, and two years at Prairie View northwest of Yuma. While teaching here, many activities were shared with the Hammond, Enterprise, Pleasant Hill and Liberty Hill schools. After receiving her BA Degree from Colorado State College of Education at Greeley in Business and English in 1940, she taught at the Waverly High School north of Fort Collins for three years and worked as a clerk at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal for a year.

While teaching at Waverly she met Raymond Willeke who was farming in the area. They were married on August 18, 1943 in Akron, Colorado, and celebrated their 53rd Anniversary before he died on May 30, 1996. They had farmed a few years at Wellington, Galeton, and Gary south of Brush before moving to their present home sixteen miles northwest of Otis in 1949, which was purchased from Charles Halsey.

Avis was an active member of the Northeast Council of Catholic Women, served on the church council of St Joseph's Catholic Church in Akron and held all the offices of the Altar and Rosary Society. She was active in the Columbine Homemakers Extension Club for over 50 years. She researched and wrote the history of the Prairie Vale School for the club. She and Betty Gebauer researched and wrote the History of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Akron from 1887 to 1976 for the Centennial Year. At the time of her death, she was the president of the Residents Council at the Washington County Nursing Home where she has been residing since November of 2007.

She enjoyed gardening, sewing, upholstering, cooking, woodworking and making laundry soap. When she was able she liked to do Respite work relieving caretakers for a few hours of taking care of their loved ones. She appreciated all the help the family members gave her which permitted her to stay in her own home as long as she did, especially Monte who lived near and Joyce who spent her summer vacations from teaching in Torrington at her home. All the other children and grandchildren came often and helped with whatever was needed. She enjoyed having the family come any time and the large family gatherings for the holidays. After she wasn't able to visit her friends who were in nursing homes or shut-ins at their homes, she kept in touch with them by telephone and for the last ten years loved to email her friends and family. She loved to challenge her children and grandchildren to a game of Scrabble or Pinochle and many other games.

Raymond and Avis enjoyed living on the farm, sharing their children's and grandchildren's school and community activities. They were the parents of seven children all of whom graduated from the Otis High School and went on to attend the colleges of their choice. They have seventeen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Eleven grandchildren have graduated from Otis.

Avis was preceded in her death by her husband, Raymond, her parents, Ambrose and Katie Blach, four sisters and husbands: Betty Buchkowski and Herbert of Aurora, Annabelle Perlenfein and Ernie of Yuma, Gloria Norwood and George of Yuma, Bonnie Blach of Denver, brother-in-law, Marion Gartin of Otis, daughter-in-law, Denise Harris Willeke, Leland's wife and son-in-law, Larry Sjoberg, Phyllis' husband. They lost their youngest son, Craig, in 1989 when he was killed in an airplane accident along with his father-in-law, Harold Wright and brother-in-law, Fred Wright. In 2008 they also lost their grandson, Conor Willeke, in a motorcycle accident.

Avis is survived by three sons and families of Otis: Roger and wife, Patricia, and sons, Benjamin, Declan, Jesse and wife, Beverly and their sons, Austin, Rowan, and Ian.
Leland and the late Denise Willeke and children: Jordan, his wife Jennifer and their children, Jack, Madelyn and Lydia. Jennifer, Briana and Evan
Monte and wife Peggy and his two children Meghan and Drew
Karen Willeke, wife of Craig, deceased, and children Joey, Danny and Kristin.

Three daughters: Phyllis and two children Jason and wife, Mickie, Charmin and daughter, Ayla.
Joyce Willeke of Torrington, WY and
Diane and husband, Hank DeWitt and two daughters, Katie and Mallory

Avis is survived by one brother, Perry Blach, wife, Teresa, and family of Yuma, two sisters, Joan Gartin and family of Otis and Charlotte Wegner and husband, Weldon of Houston, TX. One sister-in-law, Lois Buchkowski of Aurora. Raymond's sister, Iva Lewis of Greeley and many nieces and nephews of both families.

Avis and Raymond enjoyed living in Washington County with their caring neighbors and wonderful friends. Always wanting to make things interesting, Raymond passed away on Avis' birthday and Avis passed away on Raymond's birthday.

A vigil service will be held Friday, January 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Church will be held Saturday, Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Hope Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Washington County Nursing Home, or The Samaritan House. Brenner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.