April 2, 1936 – March 16, 2020

Jack was born at 824 H Street in Geneva, NE in 1936 to Henry and Fern Blanke.  He had 2 older siblings Henry and Janice.

Jack graduated from Geneva High School in 1954.  He ran track, played basketball and was all state in football.

He went on to Doane College.  He wasn’t too serious about school until he met Margaret Hoarty.

Jack and Margaret married on May 31, 1958 at St. Helena’s Church in Grafton, Nebraska.

When they were first married, Jack and Margaret would make frequent trips to Grafton and Geneva.

Jack would work at Blanke’s Tavern, Geneva City Pool, and help Margaret with her siblings Jim, Nell, Ann and Dick while his mother in law Mary was teaching or going to school.

After Jack graduated from Doane, they moved to Fairbury, Nebraska where their son Timothy was born.  In 1961, they moved to Omaha where Elizabeth and Philip were born.

Jack and Margaret’s first home was at 6106 N. 66th Street.  It was a great neighborhood with lots of young families.

They moved to 3823 N. 95th in 1973 where they were surrounded by good neighbors and lots of Maplewood preschool and Omaha Public school friends.

Jack’s first teaching job in Omaha was teaching geography at McMillan Junior High.

He transferred to Technical High School where he taught history for 10 years.

He spent the last 23 years of his teaching career at Central.  He was the history department head for 21 years teaching Advanced Placement and regular history courses.

Jack was a great teacher.  He won the Buffet Award in 1994.

He enjoyed teaching students about William Jennings Bryan – the Golden Boy orator from the Platte, Bloody Kansas, Return to Normalcy, 13 contiguous colonies and Milton Friedman

Jack loved his family, Nebraska football and the New York Yankees.

Jack retired from Central in 1997 to spend more time with his family.

He volunteered several years at St. James Grade School where his grandchildren, Tom and Libby were students.  He enjoyed being a cafeteria and playground monitor.

After Tom and Libby left St. James, he switched volunteer roles.  He cleaned the church and helped at funerals so he could spend more time with Margaret.

He was a devoted husband to Margaret.  They were married for 55 years.

Jack is survived by children: Tim (Michelle), Lisa, and Phil; grandchildren: Tom (Kari) and Libby (Cody); dog, Shirley; and numerous other family members and friends.

VISITATION following CDC guidelines: Friday, July 24th from 4pm to 6pm, at the West Center Chapel followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 6pm.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Saturday, July 25th, 10am, St. James Catholic Church (4710 N. 90th St.)