Chips off the ol' Block...

.....possibly the oldest, most obvious bad joke they endured ☺.

The Block family was a mainstay of Morrison county history.  Everyone knew a Block, married one, wished they had, or knew someone who did.  

This is a good illustration of how obituaries (and Find a Grave.com) can clear up genealogical questions:

From February, 1960:

The Gerhard Block Family c 1920

Solemn Funeral Services For Gerhard H. Block

Solemn funeral rites were held at St. Joseph's Church, Pierz, Tuesday morning at 10 for Gerhard H. Block, 94 years, 26 days, who passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Martin Stalpes, Saturday morning at 9. Celebrant of the Solemn Requiem Mass was Rev. Robet Voigt with Rev. Robert Schulzetenberg assisting as deacon and Rev. Richard Leisen, the subdeacon. Interment was in the Pierz cemetery.

Pallbearers were Donald Zenner, Roman Block, William and Joe Block and Donald Newman.

Honorary pallbearers were Jake Girtz, John Gau, John Weber, Leo Langer, John Schraut, and Herman Poser.

Mr. Block was born in Englern, Germany January 10, 1866 and arrived in the Pierz vicinity when 19 years old. He married Mary Leeb at St. Joseph's Church in Pierz, January 10, 1893, who preceded him in death. His death was due to advanced age. He was a member of St. Joseph's Society.

Surviving are the following children: George, Royalton; Ernest and Walter, St. Paul; John, Little Falls, Otto, Pierz; Mrs. John Zenner, Buckman; Mrs. Martin Stalpes, Pierz; Mamie, Perham, Minn.; and Julia, St. Paul.

There are twenty grandchildren and thirty great grandchildren.
Family links: 
 Spouse:
  Mary Leeb Block (1871 - 1950)
 
 Children:
  George John Block (1894 - 1990)
  Mayme Laura Block (1895 - 1990)
  Ludmilla Block Zenner (1897 - 1978)
  Elizabeth J Block Stalpes (1898 - 1983)
  Walter Gerhard Block (1902 - 1997)
  John Block (1904 - 2001)
  Julianne Block (1906 - 1994)
  Otto P Block (1908 - 1975)

In that 1920 photo above, I think the oldest kid, George, is in the back row, 3rd from the left.  Here he is again, this time as the dad.  He married Mary ("Girlie") Hesch, daughter of John and Ket Hesch.  This photo was probably taken on George and Girlie's 50th wedding anniversary, in 1975.  The highlight takes you to a profile done of them when they retired to the Pierz Villa.  Pretty cool, huh?

George John Block, age 96, a resident of St. Mary's Villa and formerly of the Buckman area died December 6, 1990 at St. Mary's Villa in Pierz.

Funeral services were held December 7 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Buckman with the Rev. Sylvester Maus officiating. Burial was in the St. Joseph's Cemetery in Pierz.

George J. Block was born June 10, 1894 in Pierz, MN, to the late Gerhart and Mary (Leeb) Block. As a young man he grew up in the Buckman area. On October 13, 1925 he was united in marriage to Mary E. Hesch at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Buckman. AFter their marriage the couple farmed in the Buckman area until retiring in 1969 when they moved to Little Falls where they were residents of the Pine Grove Manor. In 1987 the couple moved to St. Mary's Villa in Pierz, where he resided until his death. He was a member of the WWI Barracks of Little Falls and the St. Michael's Society of Buckman.

He is survived by four sons, Joseph of Pierz, Kenneth of Royalton, William "Bill" of Little Falls and Gene of Swanville; four daughters, Mrs. Donald (Doreen) Newman and Mrs. Raymond (Helen) Guck of Randall, Mrs. Kenneth (Florence) Starr of Royalton and Mrs. Richard (Mary) Peterson of Maple Lake, MN; brothers, John of Little Falls and Walter of St. Paul and one sister, Julia Block of Little Falls; 38 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary on December 26, 1989, brothers: Otto and Ernest and sisters: Mayme Block, Elizabeth Stalpes and Millie Zenner.

Casketbearers were Scott Klein, Bob Newman, Ray Guck, Dan, Paul and Glen Block.