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Obituary

Henry and Phyllis Blanke

May 15, 1931 - September 14, 2019

Henry and Phyllis Blanke

Henry H. Blanke, Jr. was born in Geneva, NE in 1931 to Henry H. Blanke, Sr. and Fern L. Cruse Blanke. Henry graduated from Geneva High School in 1949 and went on to graduate from Doane College in 1953 and the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1958.

In 1935 Phyllis A. Chard was born in Norfolk, NE to Edgar E. Chard and Lila A. King Chard. Phyllis graduated from Superior High School in 1953. She graduated from Cottey College in 1955 and the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1957.

Henry and Phyllis’ theatre love story began in 1955 where they met while Henry was teaching in Superior. Phyllis’ brother, Stanley Chard, was a student in a play that Henry was directing. Phyllis had just graduated from Cottey College and volunteered to help with the costumes. The romance began. Their first date was June 30, 1955. After Phyllis graduated from UNL, they married on June 30, 1957.

Henry and Phyllis then started their very long career in the theatre arts. Always together. They received their Masters of Arts together in 1958 from UNL. Their teaching careers began; Henry at Nebraska Wesleyan University and Phyllis at UNL. It took just one year for them to realize they didn’t want to be apart teaching at different schools.

They went to Tarkio College, (1959-1961). Here began the “Henry and Phyllis” theatre team, always together. Henry and Phyllis were newly married and they often remarked that they made some amazing friends in “those years at Tarkio.”

In 1961, Henry began his PhD studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, IL. In Bloomington something wonderful happened, their first child, Gregory, was born in September of 1961. Henry always credited Phyllis with getting him through those tough PhD years because she helped him with all of his papers! As much as they loved Bloomington, Henry and Phyllis missed their families (and sharing baby Gregory) so when they got an offer to join Nebraska Wesleyan University they returned to Lincoln.

In 1963, Henry began his long teaching career at N.W.U. becoming the Director of Theatre. Henry and Phyllis’ second child, Annette, was born in February 1964. Phyllis started her career at N.W.U. in 1965. She was an Associate Professor teaching costume design, and designing wigs and make-up as well as designing all the costumes for the Wesleyan theatre productions. Even if Henry wasn’t directing the show, he would be in the building so they were never very far from each other.

1967 was a wonderful year for Henry and Phyllis because their “third child” was born, the Brownville Village Theatre. With the help of Nebraska Wesleyan University, the Nebraska Historical Society and Randall and Jane Smith, the Brownville Village Theatre began. Henry was the Director of Theatre and General Manager and Phyllis served as the Costume, Box Office and Business Manager. They successfully ran a full summer repertory theatre from 1967-1996. They were committed to providing a professional theatre experience, performed in true repertory style, to audiences in rural SE Nebraska. B.V.T. also provided students an opportunity to receive first-class professional theatre training. In 1979, both Henry and Phyllis were honored with the Governor’s Arts Award for their dedication to the Brownville Village Theatre. Henry and Phyllis celebrated more than 30 wedding anniversaries with their own children and their BVT “kids” in Brownville.

Henry and Phyllis mentored generations of students. Two of those students joined the Blanke family- Greg married Julie Hodtwalker in 1988 and Annette married Brad Hinrichs in 1994. Annette and Brad gave them their beloved grandson, Ben Hinrichs.

In March of 1997, Phyllis suffered a cerebral aneurysm. Henry stayed by her side until she was discharged from Madonna Rehabilitation Center three days before their 40th Anniversary.

Many people know Henry enjoyed keeping statistics, here are just a few of them: Henry taught a total of 46 years and Phyllis 36. Henry and Phyllis directed and costumed more 300 full length plays and musicals during their theatre careers. After 1997, they both enjoyed going to plays and musicals and saw more than 250 shows.

In 1999, Henry was honored with the Kennedy Center Medallion of Excellence by the Kennedy Center Arts.

In 1998, Phyllis was honored by Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital with the Chairman’s GOAL Award.

In 2015, N.W.U. honored Phyllis by officially naming the costume library the Phyllis Chard Blanke Costume Library. Phyllis started the costume library with perhaps 250 pieces; the Library now contains more than 40,000 pieces.

Henry and Phyllis, closing the final chapter of their life-long love story, died just six days apart. Henry on September 14, 2019 and Phyllis on September 20, 2019.

Henry and Phyllis are survived by: Greg Blanke (Julie), Espanola, NM, Annette Blanke Hinrichs (Brad), Lincoln, NE, grandson Ben Hinrichs, Lincoln, NE, brothers: Jack Blanke, Omaha, NE, Dr. Stanley Chard (Linda), Midwest City, OK, nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by: both sets of parents, Henry’s sister, Janice Fassnacht, and sister-in-law Margaret Blanke, as well as many beloved aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Brownville Village Theatre Foundation or to the family.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 2nd , 2:00 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 17th and F Street, Lincoln, NE. In true Brownville Village Theatre fashion, a reception of Lemonade and Cookies will be held following the service.

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