Rolland M. Block

Rolland "Rollie" Block, age 85, of Pierz, MN, passed away Monday, April 2, 2012 at the St. Cloud Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz, MN, with Fr. Gerald Dalseth officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 9, 2012 at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Pierz, MN with a Rosary at 4:30 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Tuesday at the funeral home from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Rolland "Rollie" Michael Block was born on November 19, 1926 in Buckman Township, Morrison County, Minnesota to the late Herman H. and Angeline T. (Merkling) Block where he grew up on the family farm. He was united in marriage to Lea M. Rauch on June 12, 1950 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz. The couple farmed for seven years and then moved to Babbitt, MN where Rollie worked in the taconite mines for three years. He then went to East Grand Forks where he owned and operated a gas station for two years. He then took a job with Markfort Construction in St. Paul, MN, where he worked as a mason for 18 years. He later started his own business, Rollie Block Masonry until his retirement. Rollie enjoyed auctions, hunting, fishing, raising Labrador Retrievers, planting pine trees and helping on the farms. One of Rollie's greatest interests was promoting and helping build the softball fields in Genola. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz. Rollie is survived by his wife, Lea Block of Pierz, MN, children, Sharon (Robert) Streasick of Alexandria, MN, Nita (Doug) Hayes of Maple Grove, MN, Denise (Joe) Brenteson of Zimmerman, MN, Carol Block (Mark Piasecki) of Forest Lake, MN, Diane Tribbitt (Sam Scott) of Hillman, MN, Lisa (Marne) Gall of Pierz, MN, Sandy (Dan) Meyer of Hillman, MN; foreign exchange daughter, Sandra Mara (Gutenberg) Brasil of Vitoria, Brazil; siblings, Verena Otremba of Pierz, MN and Elaine Grittner of Pierz, MN; 23 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. Rollie was preceded in death by his parents, Herman H. and Angeline Block; daughters, Marie Block, Sheila Block, Annette Block; brother, Donald Block and great-granddaughter, Nevaeh Kloss.