Kay Marie Blanchard

PAID OBITUARY

Kay Marie Blanchard (nee Mittermeyer) entered eternal life on Saturday, April 21.  

She was born in Eau Claire on Feb. 18, 1936, to Dr. Edward and Adeline (nee Schroeder) Mittermeyer. She grew up in Cornell, Wis.  

She graduated from Cornell High School in 1954 and attended one year of nursing school at the Universtiy of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

On January 28, 1956, Kay married the love of her life, Kenneth Blanchard, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Cornell. Together they raised seven children.

Our family moved from Cornell in 1972, and after several job transfers settled in Port Washington in 1977.

Mom will be remembered as loving, kind, forgiving, thoughtful and tender-hearted. She devoted her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, friends and her Catholic faith.  She always remembered the birthdays and anniversaries of all of her loved ones. Fun loving with a wonderful zest for life, Kay had a great sense of humor. Wherever she was, laughter was soon to follow. She loved music and definitely had the gift of gab.

Her favorite pastime was playing golf with her husband, family and friends. She really missed not being able to play in recent years.

Mom was an avid Green Bay Packers fan. She loved a good marching band, especially the UW band, and played trombone in high school.

She had a great love for her country.  She enjoyed singing and dancing with her brothers and sisters whenever they gathered.  

Mom loved celebrating holidays and decorating our home, especially the mantle at Christmas. The Friday fish fry at the Port Hotel was a favorite, as well as an old-fashioned or two! Mom and dad enjoyed returning to Cornell for high school reunions to visit with old friends and family.

Her favorite vacation spots were northern Wisconsin and Door County.   Outside of Wisconsin, her favorite vacations were to the Napa Valley and Lake George in New York. Mom loved the Colorado Rockies.

For most of her life she was a homemaker, but she did work outside of the home after us kids were a little older. She worked in several places, but her last job was at McDonalds in Port Washington, where she made lasting friendships. She enjoyed her lunch outings with her friends Jean, Leah, Dorothy and Bev. She retired in 1999.

She is survived by her husband Kenneth of Port Washington; children Jay of Port Washington, William (Lori) of Port Washington, Sara (her special angel) of Cedarburg, Jan of Port Washington, Barbara (Mark Paulson) of Newburg, Kristin of Neenah and Susan (Randy) Fuller of De Pere; four grandchildren, Bryan (Jackie) Wulff, Jamie Wulff, Kelli Blanchard (fiance Jake Jenkins) and Tommy Blanchard; four great-grandchildren, Shiloh, Lena, Samuel and Louie; siblings Ann Ruud, Sue (Rod) Johnson, Lee Mittermeyer, Frank (Sandy) Mittermeyer, Betty (Dennis) Rivers, Gail Mittermeyer, Peggy Taylor and Joe (Wendy) Mittermeyer; and sisters-in-law Verna Miller and Jane Blanchard. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Jane Valmore, mother-in-law Anna Blanchard, seven brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law.

Visitation will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at St. John XXIII Parish, St. Peter of Alcantara Catholic Church in Port Washington, with a Mass of Christian burial to follow.

Burial will be at the Cornell Cemetery in Cornell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Lung Association or The Arthritis Foundation would be appreciated. 

Eernisse Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements.  

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.

The family would like to thank the staffs of Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital-Ozaukee, Sarah Chudnow, Lasata Care Center and the rescue squad for the care they provided.