Doug Blackmun
Doug Blackmun, 82, of East Grand Forks, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, July 23, 2008.Douglas Lucian Blackmun was born February 22, 1926 in Comfrey, MN, the third of four children to Lucian L. Blackmun and Marjorie A. (Robinson) Blackmun.
After graduating from Comfrey High School in 1944, he served the remainder of a three year enlistment in the Army Air Corps and was honorably discharged in June of 1946.
He married his High School Sweetheart, M. Elaine Hayes on November 17, 1945. They began raising a family in Comfrey as Doug served as manager of the Comfrey Telephone Company and also owned and operated their own restaurant. Doug also began his career as a professional musician appearing at local venues in the southern Minnesota area.
Doug and Elaine moved their family to Grand Forks, ND in February of 1956. Doug appeared nightly at the Dakotah Hotel over the next five years and also made numerous radio and TV appearances. Friends, family and fellow musicians marveled at Doug’s talent as he played the popular standards of the day on his B3 Hammond Organ, left hand chording on the organ, right hand playing lead lines on the piano, while his feet pumped out the bass. Occasionally he accompanied himself by playing valve trombone or trumpet with his right hand as well.
In 1961, Doug took a position as manager of the Grand Forks Country Club at its old location in East Grand Forks, MN. He then purchased the golf course property in 1964 when the Country Club was moved from East Grand Forks, MN to its present location in Grand Forks, ND, and then opened the River Bend Supper Club. He formed his own house band and provided fine music and memories for many special occasions and gatherings while he and Elaine operated there for the next 41 years until the River Bend closed in 2005.
Doug loved to hunt and fish. He spent many summers guiding friends and family on Lake of the Woods in his boat “River Bend” and became known to many of his fellow fisherman as the “Organ Grinder”, his CB call sign.
Doug is survived by his wife Elaine, sons Michael (Kim) Blackmun of Grand Forks, Dennis (Nancy) Blackmun of East Grand Forks, daughters, Maureen (Nevin) Campbell of Greenboro, SC, Sheila Blackmun (Bruce Watkins) of Hewitt, WI and Carol (Dan) Lawrence of Bloomington, MN, sister Elaine Nemitz and one brother Larry Blackmun, 17 grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren.
Doug is preceded in death by his parents, brother Arvid Blackmun, daughter-in-law, Jo Marie and two great-grandchildren, Andrea and Scott.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Catholic Schools Music Department, 200 3rd St. NW, East Grand Forks, MN
Memorial Services were held on Monday, July 28, 2008 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, East Grand Forks.
Online Guestbook: www.stennesfuneralhome.com
Arrangements by Stennes Funeral Home, East Grand Forks.