ALICE BLANK

 Alice “Arlene” Blank (nee Malinowski)

Our beloved mother Alice “Arlene” Blank passed away on January 30, 2017 and is now at peace with her Lord and Savior, husband, and other family members.

Arlene, or Mully as she was known to some, was born in Menasha, WI on November 27, 1927 to the late Robert and Hannah Malinowski. She graduated from Menasha High School in 1945 and married Melvin “Sonny” Blank on May 24, 1947. Her hope was to pass away in the Blank family home which has housed the family for over 100 years.  She had lived there for 70 years and she almost made it!  Her final 3 days were spent at Prairie Home Assisted Living House of Joy.

Arlene was a hard worker taking care of her family and home.  She kept the house spotless and everything had to be in its place or else!  She loved to bake and the cookie jars were always full and a cake or pie could always be found in the refrigerator.  When the kids were growing up, it was a treat to have “cookies or bread that were bought in a store.”  In the summer she loved gardening, sitting on her front porch, and baking or canning the pears and apples from the trees Melvin had planted.  She loved to read and had a photographic memory.  She loved her “Packers” and always had advice for the coaches after a game!  Her faith was very important to her and she began each morning sitting at the table and reading her Bible she received from her parents at confirmation.

She accomplished her final two goals:  her 89th birthday luncheon with her family on November 27, and, with the help of her children, baking her traditional Christmas cookies, including two batches of the famous Blank family “peppernuts.”  She felt she had us “fully trained” to carry on the tradition before her death! 

Mother or “Ma's” greatest accomplishment was her three children:  Nancy (Thomas) of Menasha, Charles (Freddy) and David of Neenah.  She leaves three grandchildren:  Brooke and Andrew Wiegand, and Nicole Coppee, four great-grandchildren (Jennifer, Courtney, Billy Shane and Strider), a sister-in-law Doris Zenefski , cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews.   

She is preceded in death by her husband Melvin, sister and brother-in-law Jean and Clarence Ciske, and sister and brother-in-laws:  Vera Ehrlich, Helen and Rolland Marmes, Norbert Zenefski, Mary Jane and Paul Serwas.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 3, 2017 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 200 N. Commercial St., Neenah, WI 54956.  Visitation will be from 9:30 to the time of service with Pastor Sandra Crase.

In lieu of flowers, Mother's wish is a memorial be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church in her name.

A very special thank you to Prairie Home Assisted Living for helping Mother live her final days with dignity.  The care and compassion shown by your staff, and the security you provided, helped both her and the family during this difficult time.

Mother, it was a privilege to take care of you the last six months and we will cherish these memories. 

We truly admire you for “living your life your way”.    Love Forever, Nancy, Chuck and Dave