The Superior Express -

Michael Allen Blain of Edgar, died Monday, Jan. 30, at the Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was born Feb. 9, 1962 to Dale 'Dean' Blain and Sharon Kay Voboril in Red Cloud. Mike grew up in the Edgar, Nebraska, area. He attended Edgar Public School through the sixth grade, then attended Sandy Creek Junior and High School where he graduated in 1980.

Mike enjoyed time in Kansas with Grandma and Granddad Voboril where he helped his granddad farm and his grandma garden. It was not rare for him to stay the entire summer with them, and it was during those formidable years he fell in love with everything farming and machines.

During his senior year of high school, Mike started working for Edgar Motor Company on the weekends. It was there his love for mechanics blossomed, and he became lifelong friends with owner Bill Bush. Upon graduation, he began working for them full time, until he enlisted and left for the Army at the end of July, 1980. Mike completed basic training at Fort Ord Army Base, Monterey, California, where he was then stationed for two years. It was there that he was trained to be a mechanic. He was next transferred to the Hanau Army base in Germany where he would stay for two years working on military tanks. Mike took great pride in the work he did on the new M 1 Abrams Tanks and even more pride in serving his country. Mike was honorably discharged from the Army upon completion of his term of service when he returned Stateside at Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey.

He returned to Edgar and worked for Dick's OK Tire for four years. He then moved to Esbon, Kansas, to work for Frost Family Farms. During his time there, he worked on Bill Frost's sprayer plane and so began his love for planes. Upon the passing of Bill, Mike went to work for Kucera's running heavy equipment where he built terraces and leveled farm ground. Mike left Kucera's and began working for the Adams County landfill near Hastings in 2006. He worked there for 12 years.

Mike met the love of his life, Vickie Schoenholz, in the fall of 2012. Mike left the landfill in 2018 to join Vickie with her lawn and tree spraying business. It was at this time he also started working for Lovegrove Farms part time and developed a friendship with Tom (TJ) Lovegrove and his family. He enjoyed driving semi for them and considered one of the trucks his baby. Though it wasn't his favorite job, it was during these years he also would go to Portales, New Mexico and make deliveries for their other business, The Nut House. He woulddo anything to help Vickie, see her smile and make her happy. Everything that is, except dance.

Mike loved life. He was a veteran, partner, son, brother, grandson, nephew, uncle, bonus dad(granddad) and friend. He was the protector and big brother to sisters Shani and Shelley.

He cherished Vickie's children and grandchildren and thought of them as his own. He had an extra special connection with Collin. He enjoyed his time with his friends. Mike made many special friends through his work and he cherished each of them. To Mike, friends were family. Though he was never one for big social gatherings, you could count on him for a welcome conversation. He would be sure to go to the station for a pop most mornings so he could visit with long time friend Chris Kenley then in the evenings, and it was rare if someone would not stop by his garage to visit and unwind from the day.

Mike used his spare time over the years to restore his grandad's pickup and antique tractors. He enjoyed listening to music, riding his bike, fishing and camping. His favorite hobby was flying his model planes. He built, worked on, and flew his planes, until he crashed his beloved Biplane. Though he rebuilt it, he would never fly it again.

Like many, Mike enjoyed good fun and the occasional joke or prank. Did you ever hear the one about the old pickup, the outhouse and Main Street of Esbon Kansas? Rumor has it the ending was almost explosive.

You knew where you stood with Mike. He told it like it is, but he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. His legacy left is his service, kindness and zest for life.

Mike was preceded in death by his grandparents, Wallace 'Bud' and Ruby Blain of Red Cloud, and Edgar and Dorothy Voboril of Esbon, Kansas.

Left to cherish his memory are his parents, Dean Blain of Edgar and Sharon Voboril of Hastings; sisters, Shelley (Ernest) Eisenman of Clay Center, Kansas, and Shani (John) Wischmeier of Hastings; aunt, Donna (Charles) Leadabrand of Lebanon, Kansas; uncle, Jerry (Paula) Voboril of Esbon; long time partner and soulmate, Vickie Schoenholz; bonus son, Ben (Nicole) Schoeholz; and grandchildren, Collin, Mylah, Kaelyn and Korah; bonus daughter, Shannon (Jim) Collier all of Bruning, Nebraska; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mike is missed by all.

A service for Mike will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 1O, at the Ong United Methodist Church.