Joshua Aaron Blomquist was born on 11/11/1978 to Bruce and Judy Blomquist of Lake Bronson, MN. Josh was called home on 1/14/2022, his heart giving away in his sleep. He was the third of four children.

Josh went to school at Tri County School, graduating in 1997. Over his school years, he played football, raced in track and cross country as well was stage help for some of the one act plays. He also played football in college at NCTC in Thief River Falls where took up mechanics.

After college Josh worked at Polaris in Roseau for approximately 20 years. Over those years, he welded on the line, and in later years worked as a mechanic, refitting and repairing ATVs and such for special rides and shows. When given the opportunity, he loved testing snowmobiles and ATVs which gave him the chance to do some traveling, mainly to Arizona and West Virginia, passing through many other states along the way. He loved racing snowmobiles and was able to complete one of his goals of going the whole way from Winnepeg to Bemidji for the I-500 in about 2017. He didn't care what position he crossed the finish line, just that he finished.

Josh was a member of the Jupiter Busy Bees 4-H club throughout his school years, winning many trips to the state fair. The year he graduated from high school, he even came home the night before records were due, after college football practice. When asked why he was home so late in the day, his response was that he knew his Mom's rules of always seeing things to the end. As a Mom, I was so proud of him for that.

Josh could work hard when he worked, however loved to spend time on the lake with his pontoon. He didn't care if his was old and not very fancy looking, he just enjoyed the peace and quiet to help unwind.

Josh was very involved in many community and surrounding activities. He was a member of the Two Rivers Sportsmen Club which spurred on his love and strong belief in teaching kids to be safe as a certified instructor through the DNR, with gun safety (fairly newly certified as an instructor), ATV (18 years) and snowmobile (6 years). He also served as a board member for the Kittson County Fair Board for 8 years plus 14 years prior to that unofficially at his Mom's side. He was a member of Halma-Lake Bronson Sons of the American Legion for 21 years. He served on many Memorial Day Honor guards and  took part in the Legion's roofing project. Josh was a fire fighter with the Lake Bronson Fire Department for 22 ½ years and was an assistant chief for the past few which he took very seriously. He was always ready to go the extra mile to help promote our fire department.

Josh often put off his own projects at home to help someone else. As a result, he leaves behind a lot of unfinished projects. He loved working on vehicles, tractors, ATVs, snowmobiles and many other miscellaneous projects for family and friends, usually for little to nothing.

He leaves his parents, Bruce and Judy, brother Jason (Heather) and sister Karissa, nephews Trinity, Zachary and Aidan, nieces Katelyn, Aurora, Ashton, and Avalon. Grand nephews, Damian and Christian, grand nieces Destiny and Caprice. He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins and many great friends.

Josh was preceded in death by his grandparents, Edwin and Mary Blomquist, Dale and Clarice Olson, sister Kelly Marie and aunt Karen Johnson.

Josh will be greatly missed by all who got the chance to know him for his commitment to help others whenever he could. Josh was often seen as a very quiet and private guy and yet was very friendly, kind and giving. In someone's words, "a gentle giant with a giant heart"!

Pallbearers are all Josh's nieces: Katelyn Mock, Aurora, Ashton and Avalon Hesby, nephews: Trinity Clark, Zachary Clark-Solom and Aidan Hesby, grand nieces: Destiny Olson and Caprice Garcia, grand nephews: Damian Solom and Christian Garcia. Honorary Pallbearers are the members of Lake Bronson Fire Department, Two Rivers Sportsman Club, co-workers at Polaris along with all other family and friends.

Due to weather difficulties, funeral services are rescheduled for Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in Zion Lutheran Church, Lake Bronson. Visitation will be held at the church for one hour prior to the service.