Mr. Blinn graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1945, then joined the Army Air Corps during World War II. Using the G.I. Bill, he continued his education and received a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Art worked for the Wabash Railroad and retired, after several mergers, from the Norfolk Southern Railroad, giving 42 years of dedicated employment. He was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, and the Belleville-Swansea Moose. Art enjoyed baking and was known for his pies, especially pecan and strawberry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto Sr. and Olinda C., nee Brutto, Blinn; three sisters, Edna Mae Blinn, Dorothy Gaubatz, and Sylvia (Otto) Bux; and a brother, Otto Blinn Jr.
Surviving are a niece and two nephews, Thomas (Farra) Gaubatz of Belleville, IL, Diane (Ralph) Owens of Swansea, IL, and Gregory (Allison) Bux of Belleville, IL;
six grandnieces and grandnephews, Christian (Sarah) Gaubatz, Allison Gaubatz, and Anthony “Tony” (Stefanie) Gaubatz, and Melisa Brightwell, Ashley (Patrick) Barud, and Allen Bux;
and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, Taylor Grace Brightwell, Philip, Caelan and Everly Gaubatz, Raegan and Riley Gaubatz, Henry Tilk, and Jacob and Henry Barud.
Memorials may be made to St. Teresa Catholic Church Building Fund or to the St. Teresa Endowment Fund. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, March 23, 2018, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 23, 2018, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Fr. James Thomas officiating.
Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Shiloh, IL.