The Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Iowa
October 10, 1963

"At the present I am living in a house south of Mount Ayr with two other boys. We plan to trap this winter to make a living, plus having a good time doing it. If I find enough time off from that, I will work as a skinner and scraper for a well-known [Jacobs'] fur house in the late fall and winter." This is the start of what should lead to an interesting career in wildlife for Tedde BLUNCK, son of Mrs. Pauline STRINGHAM and George C. BLUNCK.

Tedde was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 19, 1946. He attended the Rogers and Anson Grade School in Marshalltown before moving to Mount Ayr. His subjects are Math IV, physics, world geography, college preparatory English and American government and he is a member of the glee club and Science and Math Club.

Some of his favorites are food: shrimp and steak; expression. "tough"; record, "Little Deuce Coupe"; "beefed" cars, and hunting and trapping.

Tedde's plans after graduation are to attend college.

The Des Moines Tribune
Des Moines, Iowa
Thursday, June 12, 1980

WINTERSET, IA.--Some folks pick mushrooms in the spring. Others watch birds or smell wildflowers. But Ted BLUNCK and Mark "Willy" WILLIAMS of Winterset would rather hunt rattlesnakes.

Their "sport" may not be one of Iowa's most popular pastimes, BLUNCK admitted, but what snake hunting lacks in participants it make up in thrills.

BLUNCK began hunting rattlesnakes five years ago, after he saw a television program about an Oklahoma rattlesnake roundup. He and WILLIAMS have been gathering rattlers ever since. "It gets in your blood," WILLIAMS said.

The best time for snake hunting is April or May, when the rattlers first come out of their rocky dens. The snakes usually sun for a few weeks on nearby ledges before they scatter out for the summer, BLUNCK said.

Though rattlesnakes are more common in eastern Iowa's limestone buffs, they're also found in rugged terrain around Winterset, BLUNCK said. His job as Madison County engineer gives him plenty of opportunities to scout the area for likely snake-hunting sites.

Timber rattlers have been persecuted for years by snake-haters, bounty hunters and habitat destruction, said Drake University biology professor James CHRISTIANSEN, but they're still relatively common in some areas. Casual hunting probably won't harm the population, he said, but the reptiles could become endangered if they're heavily hunted or if their dens are destroyed.

It's not just the snakes that are in danger on a snake hunt, BLUNCK and WILLIAMS admitted. They're extremely careful around rattlers and in snake country. They always carry snake-bite kits and anti-venom and they wear protective leggings when they're afield. They capture the creatures with a hooked rod or a plier-like "snatcher."

"You'll notice we don't handle them with our bare hands." BLUNCK said. "We may be crazy, but we're not stupid!"

Though the men hunt snakes mostly for fun, they don't waste the rattlers they catch. They eat snake meat and use the hides to make such items as wallets and belts.

Deep-fried rattlesnake meat tastes like frog legs or turtle or chicken, depending on who's doing the tasting. The meat is a delicacy best served with liquid refreshment, WILLIAMS noted.

"Beer and snake," he grinned. "You can't beat that!"

NOTE: One caption under a photograph said, "Handle with care" is the rule when dealing with rattlesnakes.

The Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
date missing from clipping

Tedde R. BLUNCK has joined Veenstra & Kimm Inc., an engineering firm in West Des Moines and Iowa City. BLUNCK had been Madison County Engineer... Tedde was inducted into the State Bar of Texas on November 13, 1995, at the Frank C. Erwin Center, Austin, Texas.

The Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Iowa
July 15, 1965

The marriage of Quita Rae LININGER, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Keith LININGER, of Shannon City, and Tedde R. BLUNCK, son of Mrs. Charles STRINGHAM of Tingley, and George C. BLUNCK of Marshalltown, was solemnized June 27, at two-thirty o'clock in the afternoon, in the United Presbyterian Church in Tingley.

The Rev. Merlin WILKINS, pastor of the Tingley Christian Church, performed the double-ring ceremony, assisted by the Rev. Gordon STOKE, pastor of the Tingley United Presbyterian Church.

The white tapers of the seven-branched candelabra, which decorated the chancel, were lighted by Curtis LININGER, brother of the bride, and Karen BLUNCK, sister of the bridegroom.

As the guests were seated by Melvin RICHARDS, of Iowa City, and Roger MORRISON, of Mount Ayr, Mrs. Roger MORRISON favored with organ nuptial music. Preceding the ceremony, Mrs. MORRISON also accompanied Maurine ROGERS, of Madrid, friend of the bride, as she sang "Love, I Come To You." After the exchange of vows and while the couple knelt on a white bench, Miss ROGERS sang "Wedding Prayer."

Before the bride joined members of the bridal party at the altar, pink rose petals were scattered in the white carpeted aisle from a white basket by Sheri WOOD, cousin of the bride, and Vicki STRINGHAM, sister of the bridegroom. They were attired in floor-length aqua taffeta dresses, made with sashes of aqua brocade and accessorized with pearls, white gloves and wrist corsages of white carnations. There headpieces were fashioned like those of the bridesmaids.

Timmy and Terry PETERS, cousins of the bride, carried the rings on matching white satin pillows, edged in Chantilly lace and trimmed with ribbon and lily of the valley.

The vows were spoken in a setting formed of large baskets of white chrysanthemums and gladioli, tied with aqua satin bows. A bouquet of white and aqua hydrangea was arranged on a nearby piano by Mrs. Clara WILLIAMS, friend of the bride, and each pew was marked with an aqua rosette, from which was suspended a white bell and an aqua ribbon bow with streamers.

Given in marriage by her father, by whom she was escorted to the altar, the bride chose for her wedding a floor-length gown of Chantilly lace and organza, the long-sleeved bodice of which was accented with a scooped neckline. The front of the bouffant skirt featured a lace-edged organza overskirt enriched with appliqued lace motifs and underscored with a full lace flounce. A lace-edged double watt eau train cascaded from the neckline of the dress. Her four-tiered veil of silk illusion was secured to a crown of silk daisies with an organza bow, and she carried a white orchid on a white Bible. Her only jewelry was a strand of pearls, a gift of the bridegroom. She also observed the tradition of wearing "something old, something new, some borrowed, something blue and a penny in her shoe."

Attendants of the bride were Lora BARKER, of Mount Ayr, maid of honor, and Bea DeCAMP, of Des Moines, and June HALL, of Joplin, Mo., bridesmaids. They wore floor-length aqua brocade dresses styled with scooped necklines and bell-shaped skirts. Their headdresses were four tiers of aqua veiling on a base of aqua taffeta fashioned in a double bow. Pearl necklaces and white gloves complemented there gowns, and each carried white carnation nosegays, tied with aqua satin streamers.

Serving as best man was Milton STONE, of Mount Ayr, and Dennis TICHENOR, of Nevada, college roommate, and Phillip WEBB, of Mount Ayr, cousin of the bridegroom, were groomsmen.

For her daughter's wedding, Mrs. LININGER was attired in an A-line dress of pink lace over pink satin, complemented by pink accessories and a corsage of white roses and baby mums. The mother of the bridegroom was attired in a three-piece dress of white lace over toast taffeta with white accessories and a yellow rose corsage.

Mrs. Jack SICKELS, of Creston, friend of the bride, and Carolyn WERNER, cousin of the bridegroom, pinned the corsages and boutonnieres.

Joan WARIN, of Maloy, friend of the bride, registered the guests at a table laid with a white cloth and arranged with a white basket filled with small aqua net bags of rice.

Congratulations and best wishes were received by the bride and bridegroom in the church proceeding the reception, which was held in the Tingley Legion Hall.

The reception table was laid with a white linen cloth and white tapers arranged with aqua net, white hearts and daisies flanked the five-tiered wedding cake, baked and beautifully decorated by Mrs. Dean JOHNSON, of Tingley. An aqua net heart, centered with a white bell, graced the top of the cake.

After the newlyweds had cut and shared the first pieces of the cake, the remainder was served with nuts and white and aqua mints by Camille LAWHEAD and Martha CARR, of Mount Ayr. Joen GROSS, of Mount Ayr, dipped the aqua punch and Donna LININGER, of Des Moines, cousin of the bride, presided at the coffee service.

The bride's table was arranged with a white linen cloth and an attractive centerpiece of small white tapers, white gladioli, baby mums and greenery. The place-cards were decorated with a miniature bride and bridegroom. The silver service, which graced the table, had been presented to the bride's great-grandparents on their 50th wedding anniversary, and was a gift to the bride from her grandmother. Karen BLUNCK and Carolyn WERNER served as hostesses for the bride's table.

Dining room hostesses were Mrs. Elton WERNER and Mrs. Merle DUKES, of Diagonal; Margaret EIGHME, Mrs. Ava KLINE, Mrs. Mildred BOYD and Mrs. Harry SKARDA, of Tingley, and Mrs. Clarence LONG, Mrs. Darrel WERNER and Mrs. Gerald HAILEY, of Shannon City.

The gifts were received and arranged by Mrs. Kenneth ERICKSON, of Story City; Janice SCOTT, of Diagonal; Rhonda CLYMER, of Tingley; Phyllis WEEDA, of Des Moines, and Jean HALL, of Joplin, Mo.

Mrs. John FOUKERT, of Mason City, a friend of the bride and her family, favored with piano selections during the reception.