Hedwig Blank

Hedwig Blank, age 94, of Woodruff, passed on to meet God on July 5, 2025 at Seasons of Life Hospice in Woodruff. She suffered a stroke six days earlier at her home and was transported to Howard Young Medical Center for stabilizing care.

She was born on August 11, 1930 in Padingkenhmen, East Prussia. She was a teen during WWII and had some harrowing stories of Russian occupation as the war concluded. The family immigrated south to West Germany after the war.

She met her husband, Christian and married in 1951. They were looking for a better life with Germany in ruins so decided to immigrate to the United States through Ellis Island and settled in Minocqua in 1952, working at Rockwood Estates off Hwy. 70 West. They then both provided caretaking for the Paul Chapman estate on Trout Lake and enjoyed meeting the Eisenhower brothers and Ike’s brother Milton, who loved Hedwig’s cooking and pie she baked for him. Making a job change they proceeded to care for the Dane Crook estate off Hwy. 70 West.

They raised three children in Woodruff near the DNR offices where Christian worked. Hedwig was a homemaker her whole life and was extremely talented seamstress and did alterations of all types for locals and many became good friends over the years. She made many baptismal gowns from former wedding dresses that were beautiful. Hedwig was also an excellent cook and baker, there was never a tradesman that left the house without cookies, cake or other treats. She very much enjoyed knitting and made handmade quilts, mittens and other items. Her eyesight started to fail in her later years and so she turned to the cooking to pass the time. She wanted to live on her own in the home they built in 1974 in Woodruff, and she did until the stroke. A very dedicated, strong-willed individual mixed with a very kind side that people enjoyed.

Hedwig was a long-time member of the Methodist Church of the Pines in Minocqua and watched it grow over the years and made many lifetime friends there.

She is survived by sons; Dietmar Blank of Woodruff, Daniel Blank of Arbor Vitae and Dale Blank (Teresa) of Hazelhurst. Hedwig loved spending time with and watching her five grandchildren: Julia, Nicholas, Braedon, Grace and Gabbie Blank, grow to be fine young adults. Special thank you to Gretchen and Ted Voigt, neighbors: Diane and Ray Christenson and Jim and Deb Kumbier for always looking over her as well as many other church members and friends that took time to spend with her.

Funeral (graveside) services will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery off South Farming Road in Arbor Vitae, on July 18, at noon where she will be laid to rest with her beloved Christian. Bolger Funeral and Cremation Services is assisting the family, www.bolgerfuneral.com to share condolences.