In Memoriam: John Blahna !

John Blahna was a known and popular figure on many sites across the Internet. Here, he was an Honor Nation supporter and member. We knew him as John Mohdom where he was the moderator of one of our forum sections. John was also one of the chief authors of the petition, Stereotyping of Native Americans at the 2004 Grammy Awards, which was signed by people around the world.

John was considered a man with insightful answers and integrity, a quiet but trustworthy man with a big heart and a willigness to share his gifts generously with others.

John described himself as follows:

john mohdom

mohdom=Mutt Or Hybrid, Depending On Mood ...acronym referring to mixed race background:
Various eastern & western europe plus Shawnee & Omaha

enrolled: Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma

Born in L.A. back when it was still cool.

Twin Cities Minnesota...maybe half hour east of Jake

single father and grandfather, in the year 2006 my son turns 34 and my grandson 10

« Last Edit: January 13, 2006, 11:12:07 PM by john mohdom »

John's life had a much broader scope than simply the internet or this Forum. The Star Tribune published the following article about John's life and death.

John Blahna was 4-term mayor of Landfall
The longtime volunteer "really cared about people who ... didn't have a break in life," said a colleague.
Bob Von Sternberg, Star Tribune
Last update: January 28, 2006 – 12:24 AM

One of John Blahna's proudest accomplishments during his tenure as the mayor of tiny Landfall was transforming a dilapidated storm shelter into the city's community center.
So it was apt that the center was the site of a memorial service Friday for Blahna, who died unexpectedly Sunday. He was 57.

"He wasn't the kind of person who'd stand on a soapbox, but would try to help people if they didn't have the tools to do something themselves," said Leanne Blahna, his ex-wife.

She said he had been found unconscious at his home Jan. 19, apparently having suffered a brain aneurysm. He died at Regions Hospital three days later.

In addition to serving four terms as the mayor of the Washington County community of 700, Blahna worked 18 years for the United Way of Greater Minneapolis, retiring in 1999. He also immersed himself in volunteering; he served as a guardian ad litem in Ramsey County and was a longtime board member of Professional Association of Treatment Homes (PATH).

"He really cared about people who were ignored, slighted or didn't have a break in life," said Tim Plant, chief executive officer of PATH, which provides therapeutic foster care for thousands of children in Minnesota and four other states. "He had real passion for trying to help people who would otherwise be ignored."

He added: "John made so many contributions to our mission of helping kids and families, you couldn't begin to count them."

A native of Oklahoma, Blahna was a Navy veteran and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in sociology and urban studies.

He moved his family to Landfall more than 20 years ago. "It was a very nice mobile home park, a real decent place to live," Leanne Blahna said. "But it needed work, so John decided to pitch in. He was city clerk before the mayor's job opened up."

He is survived by his son, Eric, a grandson, a brother and two sisters.

In an e-mail, Leanne Blahna called him "an extraordinary man who gave tirelessly to others. In doing so, he died a pauper, but what he gave to others was more important than money ... He made a difference."

Bob von Sternberg • 612-673-7184

My family and I met John and spoke with him personally during ceremonies preceding the Honor Nation petition delivery efforts. John struck me as a man who preferred the life of a private man even though he was adept in issues of public interest and public policy. On this site, John was known not only for his keen insights but also for his polite, but clever manner of twisting sentences with humorous puns.

John never posted his image on this site though it is elsewhere I'm told. In honoring John's previous decision, we will not post his image here either.

One day your here, the next you are gone.

Rest in Peace.

"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset." Crowfoot - Blackfoot warrior and orator

"You have noticed that everything as Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round..... The Sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours....

Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves."
Black Elk - Oglala Sioux Holy Man, 1863-1950

"Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence."
Mourning Dove - Salish, 1888-1936

Quote from: john mohdom on January 08, 2006, 06:44:19 PM

[From a story involving the iindictment of Rep Tom Delay, on crimminal charges]
"During my time in Congress, I have always acted in an ethical manner within the rules of our body and the laws of our land," the Texas lawmaker told fellow Republicans in a letter informing them of his decision.
...................

once upon a time actions had to match words in order for them to be believed...all to often it appears all one has to do is mention the words and they are believed.