Vernon B. "Dr. B" Blaha

Dr. Vernon B. Blaha, 93, of Grayling and Port Charlotte, FL. passed away on Thursday November17,2011. Dr. Blaha was a prominent physicianand surgeon at Grayling Mercy Hospital and Keyport Clinic and longtime resident of Grayling. Vernon was born to Dr. George and Helen(Davenport) Blaha on October 5, 1918 in Whitten, Iowa. His father was a country doctor who made house calls throughout central Iowa and practiced medicine there for 60 years. Vernon was known as "Bud" to his friends and family in Iowa. He graduated from Whitten High School in 1935, and the University of Iowa in 1939 where he received high honors in the classroom and playing in the Scottish Highlander Iowa Band. Dr. Blaha graduated from the University of Iowa Medical School in 1942 and traveled to Michigan for his surgical internship and residency at Harper Hospital in Detroit, finishing in 1948. He and a classmate at Harper, Dr. B.E. Henig, would later become Keyport Clinic partners in Grayling. Dr. Blaha, however, began practicing medicine in Marshalltown, Iowa in 1949 and continued as a physician and surgeon there until 1958 with the exception of a two years service as a Commander and as Senior Medical Officer in U.S. Navy at Argentia, Newfoundlans from 1955-57. Dr. Blaha and his family moved to Grayling in August of 1958 to join the Keyport Clinic. His surgical practice in Grayling until his first' retirement in 1984. Five years later Dr. Blaha un-retired' and joined the VA Outpatient Clinic in Gaylord where he worked until well into the 1990's Finishing a medical career in which he saw tens of thousands of clinic patients, completed of thousands of surgical cases, and delivered scores of new babies in our community. Dr. Blaha married Henrietta "Eddie" on June 17, 1973 in Houghton Lake. Dr. B. and Eddie were blessed with almost 40 years together. They had a multitude of friends from all over the country. They enjoyed attending parties, dancing, and traveling. An avid golfer, Dr. Blaha was a regular in the Tuesday Men's League at Grayling Country Club. He also enjoyed traveling with his Eddie, family, and friends and spending summers at Lake Margrethe and winters in Port Charlotte, FL where he enjoyed his part time job as a golf course ranger. Dr. Blaha was extremely proud of the accomplishments of his three sons. George Blaha, the longtime play-by-play broadcaster for the Detroit Pistons and Michigan State University Spartans, Dr. David Blaha, internationally known Orthopedic Surgeon at the University of Michigan and Michael G. Myhera, a global Oracle infrastructure architect. Dr. Blaha was a member of numerous professional organizations: North Central County Medical Society, Michigan State Medical Society, American Medical Association, Michigan Chapter of American College of Surgeons, Fellow of American College of Surgeons, International College of Surgeons, Academy of Surgery in Detroit, Past Member of Iowa State Medical Society, Past member of American Association of Senior Physicians, Past Member of Michigan Commission on Trauma, Former Staff Member of Deaconess & St. Thomas Catholic Hospitals in Marshalltown, Iowa, Past Staff Member in Harper Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, Former Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery at Mercy Hospital in Grayling, Michigan, Honorary Staff of Mercy Hospital in Grayling, MI. Dr. Blaha also held many community memberships: Honorary Member of Fraternal Order of Eagles, Grayling, Michigan. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) Lodge 2763 Port Charlotte, FL (Deep Creek Elks), Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #2121, Port Charlotte, FL, Church of the Good Shepherd, Punta Gorda, FL, Attends St. Francis Episcopal Church, Grayling, MI Life member of Grayling Booster Club, Life member of Grayling Country Club, (one of the Founding members, Past Board Member, and Past President). Former Community Memberships: Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Grayling, MI, Kingsway Country Club, Por Charlotte, FL. Survived by: Wife: Eddie Blaha of 38 years. Sons: George (Mary) Blaha of Troy and Gaylord David (Tammy) Blaha of Ann Arbor and Grayling. Michael (Tiara) Myhera of Fairfax, Virginia Grandchildren: George Blaha, Dr. Michael Blaha, Chase Johnson, Nicole Blaha, and Alena Ottley. Four great-grandchildren. Sister-in-law: Nancy (Roger) Fagerlie Preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister in law: Dr. David and Kit Blaha, close cousin: Edna Church, brother in law and sister in law Hugh and Katy McCoy. Visitation will be held at on Sunday November 20,2011 between 2-4 & 6-8 pm at Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home in Grayling. Funeral service will be held on Monday November 21,2011 at 11:00 am at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Grayling with Reverend Elizabeth Chace officiating. Condolences may be sent to www.sorensonlockwood.com. Dr. Blaha was a dog lover all of his life. He owned two favorite boxers: Star in the 1960's and Noble Duke in the 1980's. Memorial contributions can be made to the AuSable Vallley Animal Shelter PO Box 384 Grayling, MI 49738 or The Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County 3519 Drance St. Port Charlotte, FL 33980 Arrangements entrusted to Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home in Grayling. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Vernon B. "Dr. B" Blaha, please visit our flower store.