Irvin C. ‘Irv’ Blanchard, 89


Irvin C. “Irv” Blanchard, 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, March 25, 2011.

Irv was born on Aug. 16, 1921, in Downing, to Virgil and Hilda (nee Wagner) Blanchard. He married Dellora Bernhardt on June 29, 1946, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Milwaukee. Irv was a proud member of the U.S. Marine Corps. from 1942 to 1945. He served in the South Pacific during World War II. In November of 2009, Irv took an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to represent U.S. Veterans. Irv loved anything outdoors including fishing, hunting, woodworking and golfing.

After 35 years of dedicated service to A.O. Smith, Irv retired and became a member of the A.O. Smith Men’s Retired Management Club. He was also a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church for 64 years and a former member of the Zunker-Held VFW Post No. 3358 in Slinger for over 40 years.

Irv is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dellora; children, Terry Blanchard, Nancy (William) Gruhle and Tom (Dana) Blanchard; grandchildren, Joe (Christie) Blanchard, Heidi (Lucas) Alonzo, Aaron and Heather Gruhle, and Troy and Kevin Blanchard. He is further survived by his great-grandchildren, Brayden and Brooklyn Blanchard, Isabella and Maxwell Alonzo; and many other relatives and dear friends.

Irv is preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law, Marilyn Bernhardt.
A Mass of Christian burial for Irv will be at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 200 E. Washington St., Slinger, with the Rev. Rick Stoffel presiding. Visitation will be at the church only on Wednesday, March 30, from 3:30 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. Entombment will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, at Washington County Memorial Park with full military honors.

The Phillip Funeral Home of Slinger is assisting the family. www.phillipfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Herdrich, Dr. Hammer, Dr. Olafsson, the Rev. Rick Stoffel, Arlene Barron from St. Peter’s Catholic Church, the nurses and staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital in West Bend and Christine Harter and the Phillip Funeral Home for all their care and compassion during this time.