James Victor Oblander

Long-time Old West End resident James Victor Oblander passed away suddenly on February 3rd. He was born in 1944 in Saginaw, Michigan to Victor Oblander and Jane Louise Mills. James attended the Kendall School of Art and Design where he pursued his love of art and music. Inspired by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, he and his brother Dennis formed The Blues Banned in 1966. James was an avid blues musician and for his fiftieth birthday he, along with his son and Tom Kornacki, travelled to the Mississippi Delta to meet and mingle with his heroes R. L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. They visited the homes, clubs, and graves to pay their respects to the musicians who inspired them. James was a woodworker, a staunch democrat, and a devout atheist. An iconoclast, who appreciated food, music, front porches, politics, photography, and restoring guitars, he will be missed by his loving son Eric Oblander, (Melanie Jankowski), grandson Miles, brother Dennis (Dianna) and their children; Andrew and Stephanie, and his sweet canine companions Bella and Vinnie. The family wishes to thank the staff at DaVita Kidney Care for their loving care. A celebration of life will be held in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Toledo Humane Society.

All my friends are going
And everything just don't seem the same
Things just don't seem the same, baby
-Paul Butterfield Blues Band