Joe Louis BLANK

BLANK, KRANBEER, YOUNG, ANDERSON, GREGG, MORKWED, ROSSI, HUDSON, TANGBORNE, CREGER, VORDERBRUGGEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/23/2014 at 14:20:31

June 22, 1937 --- November 20, 2014

Joe Louis Blank, 77, of Red Wing died Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Red Wing Health Center. He was born on June 22, 1937, in Kanawha, Iowa, to Cecil and Marie (Kranbeer) Blank. He was named after the wrestler Joe Lewis. He graduated from Bemidji High School and then served four year in the U.S. Army. Following his discharge, he returned to Bemidji and attended Bemidji State University. On Feb. 6, 1961, he married Margaret Young in Bemidji. They moved to Red Wing in 1962. For 48 years he worked for Durkee Atwood, now known as Carlisle, retiring in 2003. Following his retirement he did consulting for Durkee-Atwood. Margaret died on April 25, 1999. On June 24, 2000, he married Carol Anderson. He was a member of United Lutheran Church, Leo C. Peterson American Legion Post #54, and the Red Men Club.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. He spent many hours working on fishing lures to get the perfect catch along with tying flies for fly fishing. His family recalls his talent at making many intricate things, such as wooden pliers and doing stained glass artwork.

He is survived by his loving wife, Carol; four children, Joseph (Donna Gregg) Blank of Red Wing, Leonard (Dawn) Blank of Farwell, Minn., Jane (Lance) Morkwed of Lake City, and Kenneth (Leslie) Blank of Nokesville, Va; three stepchildren, Terry Anderson of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Barbara (Tim) Rossi of Red Wing and Susan (Michael) Hudson of Hayfield; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert (Lorene) Blank of Bemidji; two sisters, Arlene Tangborne of LaPorte, Minn., and Evelyn (Harry) Creger of Bemidji; along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Margaret; one brother, Merle; and sister, Esther Vorderbruggen.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 24, at United Lutheran Church, with Reverend Justin Boeding officiating. Burial will be at the Oakwood Cemetery with Full Military Honors. Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and for one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to the church. Funeral arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.

Red Wing Republican Eagle - Red Wing, Minnesota