Elaine Dorothy Blankenau

ELAINE DOROTHY RUSKAMP BLANKENAU Elaine Dorothy Ruskamp was born on August 2, 1933 in Cuming County, rural Dodge, NE. Her parents were Lorenz and Elizabeth (Oesselke) Ruskamp. She attended Sacred Heart Academy, Olean, NE and graduated as valedictorian from Howells High School in 1951. Elaine was united in marriage to Anthony J. Blankenau in Sacred Heart Church, Olean, on February 26, 1957, by Reverend W. Klein. They lived in Dodge throughout their 60 years of marriage. Elaine was a member of St. Wenceslaus Parish, Altar Society, Christian Mothers Society, Parish Council member and sang in the funeral choir. She was a member of the Dodgers Club, John Rogers Memorial Library board, American Legion Auxiliary Post 122. She was a coordinator for the Red Cross Bloodmobiles collections in Dodge and served on the Dodge County Canvassing Board for elections, both for many years. After the children were grown, she worked at the Dodge Town Mart and then as a seamstress at Parkview Nursing Home in Dodge for 18 years. The job she loved best was being a Mom, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother! Elaine was interested in genealogy and co-edited a Ruskamp Family History book and other family history scrap books. She loved to cook and bake. Other hobbies included gardening, canning, crocheting, sewing, reading and working on the computer. In 2019 she moved to Elkhorn, NE to be nearer her children. She then joined St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Elkhorn. She is survived by seven children: Daughter, Judy (Bill) Mueller, Raymond, NE and daughter, Grace of Lincoln, NE Son: Donald (Gail) Blankenau, Lincoln, NE and children, Alek (Callie), Dallas, TX, Philip (Rebecca), their daughter, Heidi, Boise, ID, and daughter, Lauren, Tacoma, WA. Daughter: Mary Blankenau, Snowmass Village, CO and daughters, Mallory, San Luis Obispo, CA and Jaclyn, Minneapolis, MN Son: Steve Blankenau, Albuquerque, NM and his daughter, Merritt, San Francisco, CA Daughter: Theresa Blankenau, Littleton, CO Son: Gerald (Butch) (Bridget,) and their daughters, Reese and Regan, Omaha, NE Son: James (Jody) Blankenau and their sons, Hans and Christoph, Salt Lake City, UT She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Ruskamp, Britta Blankenau, Darlene Blankenau, Laurine Blankenau, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 60 years, Anthony, (March 2, 2017), infant sister Katherina, infant twin siblings, sister and brother-in-law, Catherine and Herman Franzluebbers, brother and sister-in-law Irvin and Ann Ruskamp, and brother, Norbert Ruskamp, brothers-in-law Dr. Richard Blankenau, Edmund Blankenau, Francis Blankenau, brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Rita Blankenau, Brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Herman and Alice Blankenau

Elaine Dorothy Blankenau

August 2, 1933 - May 31, 2024