Charles Blanke
Born: July 15th, 1851
Died: February 4th, 1938
Obituary
Charles Blanke, veteran Burlington insurance man who was widely known in musical circles prior to his retirement, died at 9:30 Friday night in the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Dr. and Mrs. JN Patterson, 929 N. Fourth Street.
He had been seriously ill since October and a year ago suffered a stroke.
Mr. Blanke had lived in Burlington since 1871, coming to this city from St. Louis, Mo. He for many years played the organ and directed the choir at St. Paul’s Methodist church. He also played in the old Orchard City and other bands under the direction of J. Henri Fischer.
Mr. Blanke was born July 15, 1851, in Bay, Gasconade County, Mo. From the age of 17 to 20, he taught in rural schools during the winters and attended business college in St. Louis during the summers. He studied music in St. Louis and later in Alton, Ill. while living with his brother.
While in Alton, Mr. Blanke received a call to come here and teach in the school connected with First German Methodist church and arrived here to take over the work Oct. 10, 1871.
Owing to the larger educational facilities offered in the public schools, the church school was discontinued after several years and Mr. Blanke accepted a position in the music store of Lange and Van Meter. On March 26, 1874, he was married to Mary Kostfled here.
In 1875, Mr. Blanke took a position as bookkeeper in the dry goods store of C.F. and John Boesch, holding this until the firm went out of business in 1885, after which he was employed in the insurance business of the firm Guelich and Blanke.
Later, he was in the United States internal revenue office under AH Kuhlemeier, was employed in the Merchants National Bank, Iowa State bank, and was in the insurance business with his brother SD Blanke until 1901 when he was elected assistant secretary of the German-American Equation Premium Life association, which subsequently changed to the National American Life Insurance Co.
Mr. Blanke was elected secretary of this firm, a position he held until the company was sold to the Royal Union Insurance Co. of Des Moines in 1925. He retired at that time.
Mrs. Blanke died in 1923 and since then Mr. Blanke had made his home with his daughter. Besides Mrs. Patterson, he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Emma Wehmeier of Seattle, Wash., and Mrs. MarthaWolking, Pomona, Cal.
Funeral services will be held from First Methodist church Monday morning at 10 o’clock, conducted by Dr. WT Smith, pastor of that church. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery.
The body is at the residence, 929 N. Fourth Street, where friends may call after Sunday noon.