Delores "Dee" Blatchford

Delores “Dee” Blatchford, 73, longtime educator at Bishop Heelan Catholic School, passed away Thursday, June 8, 2017 peacefully with her family by her side. Funeral mass will be held Friday, June 16, 2017 at 10:30 A.M., at Immaculate Conception Church with Father Shane Deman and Father Armand J. Bertrand concelebrating. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday, June 15 from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, with family present at 6:00 P.M. and a Vigil Service beginning at 7:00 P.M. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Dee was born on February 20, 1944 in Sioux City, Iowa to Melvin and Corleen (Walling) Uhl. After graduating from Climbing Hill High School, she went to Wayne State College, where she earned her degree in Biological Science and Mathematics. She then continued her education at both the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Morningside College. She was very passionate about teaching and insisted that her students learn to think and to apply their knowledge. Her career began in 1965, teaching at Junior High in Chino, California, and in District 66, Omaha. She was then united in marriage to Denny Blatchford on October 16, 1971 in Sioux City. Following marriage, she taught at Central High School and Bishop Heelan Catholic High. Dee loved to mold the minds of students by hands-on activities, dissections, and field trips, pushing her students to excel to the highest level. After 39 years of teaching at Heelan, she retired to enjoy her grandchildren. She loved travelling abroad, family vacations, family boating/fishing trips, and spending time with her grandchildren. She especially loved teaching her grandkids how to bake, sew, and to never be scared of bugs. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Denny Blatchford, her son, Eric (Sarah) Blatchford, grandchildren William Delfs, Isabelle, Beckett, and Hudson Blatchford, mother Corleen (Bob) Anderson, brothers Roger Uhl, Maynard (Jee) Uhl, and sisters Joan (Mack) Peed, Sheryl (Roger) Blatchford, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father, Melvin Uhl, mother-in-law and father-in-law Raymond and Imogene Blatchford. The family would like to extend special thanks to her Heelan family for all of the love and support given to Dee.