Thomas Blattel

CAMARILLO, Calif. -- Thomas Vernon "Tom" Blattel, 83, of Camarillo died Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at St. John's Hospital in Camarillo due to complications following hip surgery.

Tom was born Dec. 22, 1937, in Ancell (Scott City) to Edwin Andrew and Celena Bertha Glueck Blattel. He grew up in Southeast Missouri and graduated from Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. He joined the Air Force and was stationed in Japan before returning to the United States.

He met his loving wife, Ana Maria Villalobos, in Mississippi, and they were married in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on Jan. 12, 1963.

After his marriage, they moved to Pirmasens, Germany, and then Oak Harbor, Washington, before settling in Camarillo, where Tom was employed by the Navy for the rest of his career, mainly out of the Pacific Missile Test Center at Naval Air Station Point Mugu.

He and Ana immersed themselves into their lives in Camarillo with their three boys, participating in gourmet groups, kid's activities, sports, camping trips and car trips, clubs and classes.

Tom was a member of the St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Parish in Camarillo and was a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He also was an active member of the Camarillo Lions Club, having served as president and earning several awards for his service to the organization over the years. He enjoyed helping with many of the club activities, sharing good times with his fellow Lions and fulfilling their mission: "To Serve." He also received the title "Don" from the Camarillo Historical Society.

A lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, he loved reading, traveling, collecting coins, and time with his kids and grandkids.

He was a hard worker, a coach, a mentor, an architect, a carpenter, a bricklayer, a fixer of things broken and mender of toys, a father, a grandfather, an uncle, a brother, a husband and a friend. Above all, throughout his life, he wanted things to be right and strove against injustice, and untruth in big things as well as small.

Survivors include his wife, Ana Blattel; sons, Bryan (Sharon) Blattel of Dublin, California; Mark Blattel of Castro Valley, California; and Jeffrey (Alison) Blattel of Oakland, California; grandchildren, Annikka (Chris) Flores, Asher and Logan Blattel; stepgrandchildren, Rachel and Ryan (Audrey); brothers, Lloyd (Thelma) Blattel of Kelso, Missouri; Ray (Sylvia) Blattel of Oxnard, California; and Richard Blattel of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Vivian (Willard) Hinkebein of Scott City; and many nephews and nieces.

Services will be planned once public health conditions allow.

Announcement is courtesy of Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel.