Phyllis A. Blank

BLANK, MASHEK, BRUEMMER, GERHARDT, LAWTON, CRIPPEN, MCCANN

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 6/26/2009 at 09:48:48

Phyllis A. Blank, 78, of Iowa City, died peacefully in her sleep Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at home.

Phyllis was born February 2, 1929 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the daughter of Armin & Hattie Mashek Bruemmer. She graduated from La Crosse State Teachers College in 1950 and married James Blank on April 10th of the same year in Solon, IA.

Phyllis moved to Iowa City with her brother, Rick, where they were owners and operators of the A& W “Mug” Restaurant, near the dam, on Burlington Street. Later with her husband they managed the second A&W near the Benton Street Bridge on Riverside Drive. During the seventeen years that Phyllis managed the restaurant, Jim and she had eight children. When the youngest was old enough, Phyllis began a long and enjoyable career managing the cafeteria at Hoover Elementary School.

She was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and the Altar and Rosary Society. Phyllis was an avid golfer, and was a member of Fairview Golf Course and the Fairview Women’s Golf League. In 2006 she and her son-in-law, Joe, won the couples end of year golf tournament.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to Phyllis’s friends who were so supportive and caring during her illness.

Phyllis is survived by her husband Jim, their eight children and nine grandchildren; Michael Blank of Twin Falls, Idaho, and his children Erika and Krysta; Jeffrey Blank (Rev. Rose Blank) of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and their children Brent and Jenna; James Blank Jr. (Marcia) of Culver City, California and their children James D.III and Megan; Susan Gerhardt (Dietrich) of Bettendorf and their sons Conrad, Armin and William; Loraine Lawton (Joseph) of Iowa City; Andrew Blank of St. Paul, Minnesota, Kathryn “Missy” Crippen (Mark) of Phoenix, Arizona and their children, Reid and Julia; Peter Blank of North Liberty; one sister, Cheryl McCann (Thomas) of Florissant, Missouri; and her sister-in-law Sue Bruemmer of Aptos, CA.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Rick.