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Widow inspired to organize honorary blood drive

DELAVAN — Jack Stritt needed blood transfusions several times over the months and years that he was ill, first with congestive heart failure, and later, cancer. Stritt died in February.

Now a blood drive is being held in honor of Stritt and his wife, Lois. The couple lived on Delavan Lake for 42 years before moving to Geneva Township about six years ago.

“The need for blood affects everybody,” said Lois Stritt, who also is the owner of Bradley’s Department Store in Delavan. “You just never know when you’re going to need it or somebody you love will need it.”

The honorary blood drive, held by the Blood Center of Wisconsin, will run from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at Southern Lakes Masonic Lodge #12, 1007 S. Second St., Delavan.

Appointments can be made by calling Jenny at (262) 275-2185 or going online to www.bcw.edu/donateforJackStritt. Walk-ins also are welcome. All donors must bring a photo ID.

“I always thought, ‘I would love to be able to give back,’” Lois Stritt said about being involved in the blood drive. She added that the blood donated at the Delavan drive stays in Wisconsin.

All types of blood are needed, but type O-negative is constantly in high demand because it is the universal blood type used in emergency rooms and on the Flight For Life helicopter, according to a news release from the Blood Center of Wisconsin.

Two other blood drives are planned in the area in the coming weeks:

• The Community Holiday Blood Drive, sponsored by the Walworth County Human Resource Association, will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at Peoples Bank, 837 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn. To make an appointment, contact Amy Patek via e-mail at amy@hudapack.com or call her at (262) 723-3345. Or register online at www.bcw.edu/WalworthCountyHR.

Organizers hope to attract at least 35 donors at the Dec. 16 drive.

“Blood drives are critical to local hospitals and can make the difference between life and death for many of their patients,” said Nancy Ziolecki, a representative for Blood Center of Wisconsin.

• A Red Cross blood drive will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 27 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 416 W. Geneva St., Delavan. To make an appointment, call (800) RED CROSS or go online to www.redcrossblood.org.

Read the full story in the Dec. 12, 2010 e-edition of Walworth County Sunday, PAGE 20.