Bernice Esther Blank (Nee Merten) age 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 13, 2016. She was born to Peter and Melinda (Nee Spaeth) Merten on October 24, 1931. She was married to Robert H. Blank on August 27, 1955 at St. Peter Catholic Church in Slinger, WI.
Bernice was a homemaker and lived on the family farm until 2006 when she moved to West Bend. She enjoyed cooking, crafting, crocheting and playing bingo. Bernice loved spending time with her family and had a special affection for all her animals. She enjoyed life and always had a happy demeanor.
Bernice is survived by her dear children, Michael (Christine) Blank of Slinger, Barbara (John) Becker of Fond du Lac, Susan Blank of Jackson, Annette Blank of West Bend, and Richard (Jennifer) Blank of Kewaskum; 9 grandchildren; sisters, Joan (Tom) Wenninger and Marie (Fred) Rate; brother, Theodore (Marilyn) Merten; sisters-in-law, Theresa Merten, Lillian Blank and Rosemarie Weninger; brother-in-law, Joseph Hennes; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert; brothers, Robert Merten and James Merten; nephew, Brian Rate; sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Donald) Pfeifer and Eleanor Hennes and brother-in-law, Myron Weninger.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:00PM on Sunday January 17, 2016 at the Resurrection Catholic Church in Allenton (215 Main Street) with Father Richard Stoffel presiding. Visitation will be held at the church from 12:00PM until 2:45PM. Interment will be on Monday, January 18 at 10:00AM at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Allenton.
A special thank you to Dr. Mosley and staff, St. Joseph emergency, 2nd & 3rd floor staff and the staff at Ivy Manor (building 2) in West Bend.