Hazel M. Blank

Funeral services for Hazel M. Blank, age 103, of Stanton, formerly of Norfolk, will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 3, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Norfolk. Reverend Neil Gately will officiate, with interment in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk. 

Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the church. 

Home for Funerals in Norfolk is in charge of arrangements.

Hazel passed away Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Stanton Health Center.   

Hazel May (Jones) Blank was born to Glenn and Sadie (Perfect) Jones on April 26, 1922, at home on Lincoln Avenue in Norfolk, Nebraska. One of seven children, Hazel grew up in Norfolk attending Jefferson Elementary and Norfolk Junior and Senior High School. She received many penmanship awards throughout her school years and reminisced about walking and roller skating to school with friends and family on a daily basis.

Throughout her years, Hazel’s family moved around often, mainly in the Norfolk area, and also Leigh and Battle Creek, Nebraska. As a teenager, she worked cleaning houses for people, and also at the old sale barn restaurant and Mary’s Café. Following her high school years, Hazel worked at Hesteds, helped her brother Mel and his wife at their local hardware store, and then at Norfolk Creamery, where she wrapped butter and made ice cream bars.

On July 2, 1949, Hazel married the love of her life, Stanley S. Blank at the Courthouse in Columbus. Together they had one daughter, Deb, and built their life in Norfolk for over 65 years.

Hazel had a love for antiques, collecting dishes, going to garage sales and auctions with Stan, and setting up flea markets, wheeling and dealing along the way. She was an avid little antique dealer and enjoyed helping out at a couple antique stores in Norfolk and Stanton. Hazel definitely knew the value of each and every piece. She also loved traveling with Stan on the bus when he worked for Arrow Stage Lines and spending time with her family, especially her grandsons and great-grandchildren. They were the light of her life.

Everyone who knew Stan and Hazel knew the coffee pot was always on and they made sure everyone had plenty to eat should they stop for a visit.

Hazel is survived by her daughter, Deb (Tim) Kabes of Stanton; grandsons, Chris (Anne) Kabes of Fremont and Cody Kabes of Waterloo; great-grandchildren, Maya, Molly, Maria, John, Rylee, and Lincoln; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Stan; parents, Glenn and Sadie (Perfect) Jones; brothers, Melvin (Berneice) Jones, Marvin (Alberta) Jones, Leonard (Marcella) Jones, Willis Jones, and Alfred Jones; sister, Annabelle (Frank) Brown; nephews, Dennis Jones, Dan Jones, and Bob Brown; and parents-in-law, Sam and Zora (Isenhower) Blank.

Family sends a special thank you to Dr. Hirschman, Stanton Health Center, and Faith Regional Hospice for all your wonderful care.

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