BETHANY — David Wesley Bland died from a massive stroke at 7:25 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012, at Hennepin County Medical Center, in Minneapolis, MN. The stroke was caused by something called Leiden’s Factor V, which is an inherited blood clotting disorder, unknown by his family until his passing.
Wes was born on April 21, 1979, in Urbana, Illinois, to Sandra (Kranz) and Charles Bland of Bethany, IL and siblings Luke and later-born Amanda.
He graduated from Normal High School in Normal, Illinois, in 1997, from Kendall College in Evanston, Illinois, with an AA in Culinary Art in1999, and from UW Stout with a BS in Restaurant and Tourism Management in 2002. He started working as a chef for The Creamery in Downsville, WI, while pursuing his BS. After graduation he worked as a Sous Chef for one of Marshall Fields restaurants and D’Amico & Sons in Minneapolis. He later worked as a free lance chef at NASA and as an Executive Chef for Delaware North in West Yellowstone, MT, as well as other places.
He leaves behind his parents: Sandra Kranz of Bemidji, MN, and Charles Bland of Bethany, Illinois; Stepparents: Victor Mosser of Bemidji, MN, and Kelly Bland of Bethany, Illinois; Brother Luke Bland of St. Louis; Sister Amanda Bland; Stepsisters: Brandy Miller & family of Mattoon, IL, Sasha Shutter & family of Denver, CO; Stepbrother: Tony Mosser & family of Mayer, MN, plus Aunts: Susie (Robert) Alexander of Decatur; Peggy (Doug) Reeder of Sullivan, IL; Judy (Stan) Patrick of Geneva, IL; and Barby (Tom) Lalli of Princeton, NJ; as well as many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents: W.B. & Mary Kranz of Moweaqua and Sullivan, IL; and C.L. & Marge Bland and a cousin, Michelle Snyder of Bethany, IL.
Wes was an extremely talented and creative chef who dreamed of his own cooking show. But more importantly he was a caring, compassionate, funny and loving person. Even when he drove us crazy we still loved him — he had the biggest heart and the sweetest soul and will be missed terribly.
A Memorial gathering will be held in Minneapolis, MN, on Friday, November 30. A Memorial gathering is also planned at the Allerton Conference Center in Monticello, IL from 4 - 7 pm on Tuesday, December 4, since 4-H Camp was one of Wes’s favorite places in Illinois.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations in memory of Wes be sent to the Health Foundation in support of the Mental Illness Chemical Dependency Program Fund or the Addiction Research & Education Fund. Memorials can be mailed to Hennepin Health Foundation, 701 Park Avenue, LSB3 , Minneapolis, MN 55415 or taken online at www.hcmc.org/hhf. Wes was also an organ donor and would be honored if others wanted to follow his example by designating their desires on their drivers’ license.
Obituary written by family members.