Ernest John Blank, Sr., son of Edwin Armstrong and Ethel Ashton (Byers) Blank, was born on June 27, 1916 at Coin, Iowa. He entered into eternal peace on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at his residence in Glenmora, Louisiana at the age of 93.
His early life was spent growing up in the Coin area where he attended country school before graduating from Coin High School with the Class of 1934.
On September 17, 1936 Ernie was united in marriage to Sybil L. Mulkey Birkman at Clarinda, Iowa. They made their home in Shenandoah, Iowa, where they raised their three children, Phyllis, Edwin Eugene and Ernest John, Jr.
Ernie worked for the Earl May Nursery Co. for several years before joining the Navy in World War II. He served from 1944 to 1946, where he was stationed in California. Upon his release from service, he began a long career as a postman with the U. S. Postal Service. After 26 years with the Post Office in Shenandoah he retired at the age of 56. Never one to take it easy, Ernie started his own roofing business while also buying and remodeling homes to rent.
At the age of 30, Ernie accepted Christ as his personal savior and joined the Church of the Nazarene. He later joined the Assembly of God and then the Christian Fellowship Church. Being a Christian changed his life. He worked in the Church, drove a Sunday school bus and taught boys classes. Ernie was also a member of the American Legion Post #88 in Shenandoah and the Shenandoah Elks Club #1122. He loved fishing, trapping, hunting, golfing, playing baseball, playing cards and winning, and going to church and serving the Lord.
In 2001, Ernie's wife of 65 years passed away. Ernie later married his friend and fellow widower, Lee Binger, from Louisiana, whom he had known from many years of the two couples fishing together in Texas. They enjoyed 8 1/2 years of marriage together.
Preceding Ernie in death were his parents; wife, Sybil; brothers, Kenneth, Lowell and Ralph Blank; and one sister, Mildred James. Survivors include his wife, Lee Blank of Glenmora, LA; three children, Phyllis (Blank) Miles and husband Ronald E., Sr. of Omaha, NE, Edwin Eugene Blank and wife Barbara of Shenandoah, IA, and Ernest John Blank, Jr. and wife Ann of St. Louis, MO; 11 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; 9 great-great grandchildren; sister, Lois Dortch of Phoenix, AZ; other relatives and many friends.