Donna Mae Lenora (Held) Blanke, 85, of Wabash, Indiana, entered eternal life at 8:07 am, Tuesday, December 15, 2020. She was born, March 10, 1935, in Jackson, Wisconsin, to Alfred and Mathilda (Ziegler) Held.
Donna grew up in the small town of Jackson, Wisconsin. She attended Jackson Grade School and was a graduate of West Bend High School. Her life ambition was to become an elementary school teacher. Pursuing her dream, she attended Lakeland University and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Donna married Rev. David Blanke at the Peace Church in Jackson, Wisconsin on August 3, 1957. After moving to Wabash, Donna taught in the Wabash City Schools. She taught at Eastwood and West Ward Elementary Schools, before going to O.J. Neighbours, where she taught 3rd and 4th grade for 29 years. While teaching at O.J. Neighbours, she obtained her goal by securing her Masters in Education at St. Francis University in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In addition to her responsibilities as a teacher, Donna also worked as a Mentor Teacher for Manchester University, overseeing the training of student teachers.
For many years, Donna was a member of St. Matthews United Church of Christ where her husband was the Pastor. She was a current member of the Wabash Christian Church and was active in the Women’s Circle. Donna also belonged to the Indiana State Retired Teachers Association and the local chapter of the Retired Teachers Association. She enjoyed flower gardening, traveling, camping, music and singing, and most of all she loved the Christmas season. Her most cherished memories were spending time with her husband, daughters, son-in-laws, and especially her two grandchildren.
She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Rev. David Lee Blanke of Wabash, two daughters, Terri Lynn (Kenny) Chapman of Middletown, Indiana, and Lori Sue (Rick) Pernod of Wabash, and two grandchildren, Courtney Marie (Tal) Radaker of Fishers, Indiana, and Ryan Nathaniel (Mikka) Chapman of Markleville, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Frederick Held, and sisters, Dorthea Lockwood, Margaret Jaeger, and Ruth Griesemer.
Private funeral services will be held at the Wabash Christian Church, 110 W. Hill Street, Wabash, with Rev. Haley Asberry officiating. Burial will be in Falls Cemetery, Wabash. Arrangements by Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, Wabash. There will be a public Celebration of Donna’s Life at a later date.
The preferred memorial is O.J. Neighbours Elementary School, for a Reading Program in Memory of Donna Blanke. Donations can be mailed directly to the school at 1545 N. Wabash Street, Wabash, IN 46992. Please specify your donation as the “Reading Program in Memory of Donna Blanke.”
The memorial guest book for Donna may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.