Dimitri Blazef

Dimitri 'Jimmy' Blazef, 76, died early Sunday morning, July 14, 2002 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota after an extended illness. Mr. Blazef was born August 18, 1925 in the small village of Lera, Macedonia, where he lived as a farmer and sheepherder until 1961. It was then he decided to fulfill his dream of starting a new life in America in order to best provide for his wife and two small children. Speaking no English, and with only enough money to scrape fare for one passage aboard ship, he bid his family goodbye and immigrated to the Mansfield area. Determination and a constant drive to succeed led him to learn the language of his adoptive country, while also becoming a skilled baker. In 1963, after two years of hard work, he was confident enough to send for his family. The very next year, another daughter was born and Mr. Blazef was well on his way to fulfilling the American dream. Mr. Blazef bought Babcock's Donut Shop on West Fourth Street in 1979 and at the same location later opened Dimitri's Grocery & Drive Thru. Here he enjoyed talking to his friends, customers, vendors, and hardworking employees. His closest friend among many was Alma Bragg. His favorite customers were from the neighborhood around North Lake Park. He was delighted by doing business with Mansfield Distributing, Bissman's, Central Beverage, Mid-Ohio Wine, Jones Chips, PharMor, Sam's Club and Hawkins Market. His devoted employees were Robert Sanderfer, Glenna Hershberger and Sean Johnson. He was a proud union member in good standing the BCTGM Baker's Local No. 19. Mr. Blazef received commendations for serving honorably and with distinction in the Yugoslav Army during World War II. He liked vegetable gardening, yellow flowers and the smell of fresh baked bread.

Though his heart is still, Jimmy will always be loved by his cherished wife, Slavka Grozdonovska Blazef. Now done on this earth, he is with God, the dearly departed, the stars, and eternity to be proudly remembered by his children, Dan Blazef and his wife, Gorica, Anica Blazef-Horner and her husband, John, and Jaceda 'Helen' Blazef. Jimmy especially loved his grandchildren, and each grandchild especially loved him. He will be greatly missed by David Partin, Catie Horner, Dane Partin, Daniel Partin and Angelique Blazef. Jimmy is also survived by his beloved brother, Spiro Blazevski and numerous relatives in the United States and Macedonia. Mr. Blazef was preceded in death by his father, Nayme Blazevski and his mother, Vasilka Blazevska and by his sadly missed and recently departed brother, Steve Ristoff. To this end, the beginning of his soul, the body of Dimitri 'Jimmy' Blazef, rest in peace.

Friends may call at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, Thursday July 18 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be at the funeral home Friday at 1:00 p.m. conducted by Rector Emeritus David S. Sipes and the Very Reverend Dusko Georgievski. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's choice.