Lorraine Blakewell

Lorraine M. Blakewell, 90, formerly of Wausau, died early Monday, July 28, 2014 at Parkview Health Care, Oshkosh, WI.

Lorraine was born June 14, 1924 in Watertown to the late Richard and Ella (Bogenschneider) Hilgendorf. She married Donald Blakewell on November 18, 1944 in Whitefish Bay by her father-in-law, Rev. E.R. Blakewell. During the early years together, the couple lived in Milwaukee and Whitefish Bay before moving to Wausau in 1953. Lorraine and Don proudly raised four sons; Roger, Ronald, Kenneth and Timothy. She was a tremendous cook and baker at home and also applied her talents working for the Rose Garden, Wausau for a number of years. Sadly, Don passed away in 1989 from polio complications after 45 years together. Lorraine continued to live independently until 2013 when she moved to Neenah to be closer to family. In 2014, she moved to Parkview Health Care in Oshkosh.

Lorraine's passion in life was for her family. After Don's passing, family became increasingly important to her. Lorraine also had a deep love for her church home, Trinity Lutheran Church. As a member there, for many years she chaired the funeral committees and helped in other ways. One of her favorite pastimes was gardening and even in her later years when it became physically more difficult, her love of working with the earth and nurturing her garden never diminished.

Lorraine is survived by her four loving sons, Roger (Jane), Ronald (Mary), Kenneth (Mary) and Timothy (Sandy); grandchildren, Christopher (Gina) Blakewell, Elizabeth (Ryan) McCredden, Susan Blakewell, Anna (Justin) Munn, Clara (Daren) Effertz, Melinda Blakewell, Alexandra Blakewell and Zachary Blakewell; great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Violet and Graycen Blakewell, Evelyn and Alliyah Lima, Adia and Jayden Munn; siblings, Howard (Doris) Hilgendorf and Audrey (Art) Ninmann; sisters-in-law, Lorretta Hilgendorf and Carol Stoffer; and extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her brother, Allen and brother-in-law, Don Stoffer.

Services will be 11:00 AM on Friday, August 1, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Wausau. Reverend Gary Schultz will officiate. Visitation will from 9:30 AM until the time of services at the church. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park, Town of Texas. You may sign our family guestbook at www.helke.com. Helke Funeral Home, Wausau, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

A special word of thanks goes to the congregation at Trinity Lutheran Church who has always been supportive and helpful after Lorraine's sons moved away. A heartfelt word of thanks also goes to the nurses and staff of Parkview Health Care in Oshkosh who were so incredibly caring and compassionate during Lorraine's final months.