William R. "Bill" Blank
December 9, 1928 ~ June 15, 2020 (age 91) 91 Years OldShare using:
Private Family Funeral Services for William R. “Bill” Blank, age 91, of Madison, will be Monday, June 22, 2020 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison. Reverend Todd Kollbaum will officiate. Interment will be in Crown Hill Cemetery. Public Visitation with family will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 21, 2020 at the church. Social Distancing guidelines will be followed. Resseguie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bill passed away peacefully on Monday, June 15, 2020 at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.
William Robert was born December 9, 1928 west of Madison to David and Elizabeth (Reeg) Blank. He was baptized, attended grade school and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church (Green Garden), rural Madison. He graduated from Madison High School in 1946.
On October 21, 1951, he married Leata Anne “Anna” Werner in Battle Creek. They farmed and resided west of Madison. In 1956, Bill attended Reisch School of Auctioneering and he obtained real estate and insurance licenses in 1957. In 1958, Bill and Anne moved to town and established the Bill Blank Agency. Along with maintaining their business, he also worked part-time at the Norfolk Livestock Auction Market for 17 years. He retired from the Bill Blank Agency in 1993 but continued working with his family in the business.
He was a past member of the Nebraska and National Auctioneers Associations, Madison Chamber of Commerce, Norfolk Board of Realtors, and Madison School Board. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, holding various church offices, including elder, trustee, chairman of the Voter’s Assembly, Stewardship Committee member and treasurer.
Bill is survived by his wife of 68 years, their sons Werner (Scarlet) Blank, Warren (Jean) Blank, and daughter Lisa (Doug) Wolken, all of Madison, grandchildren Benjamin (Kristen) Wolken, Rachel (Phil) Rardon, Rebecca (Justus) Utecht, great granddaughters Anna, Tori, Charlotte, and Everly, step grandchildren Heather (Sean) Drahota, Chelsey Hartner, TD Hartner and Garrett Hartner, step great grandchildren Gavin, Ally, Seely, and Halsey, brother-in-law E. John (Jean) Werner of Battle Creek, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Elmer (Vance) Blank and George (Margaret) Blank and sister Ruby (Ruben) Vonderohe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Madison or Mission Central in Mapleton, Iowa.
The funeral service will be live streamed at www.trinitylutheranmadison.com on Monday, June 22nd at 10:30 a.m.. The posting will also be available for a week following the service.