Donald Blahnik

Donald Jospeh Blahnik, 89, died peacefully surrounded by family on January 10, 2025 in Geldrop, The Netherlands after a short illness.

Don was born on May 4, 1935 in Denmark, Wi to the late Edward and Margaret Blahnik (Leiterman). Don loved growing up on a farm, hand milking the cows and tending to the animals. He and his family later moved to Green Bay and Don attended East High School, graduating in 1953. After graduation, Don attended UW Madison earning a degree in History. During this time, he met the love of his life and wife of 59 years, Audrey LaLuzerne with whom he went to high school with but never knew.  In 1960, Don and Audrey were married at St. Jude Catholic Church in Green Bay. Instead of becoming a history teacher as planned, Don started selling insurance and didn’t stop for 68 years, winning countless awards, traveling the world and making lifelong friends along the way.  Don and Audrey built a cottage in northern Wisconsin in 1979 and it quickly became the place where many family gatherings happened.  Everyone was invited and welcome to visit and Don kept them busy with activities on the lake. The cottage provided him a place where he could try to exhaust his endless energy.

Don and Audrey shared a special bond with Audrey’s sister Mary and husband George, and later with their 7 daughters.  Before welcoming children of their own, Don and Audrey enjoyed spoiling the girls, taking them to school or picking them up to avoid the bus ride and having them sleep over and enjoy a candy drawer filled with Twinkies and Ho-Ho’s. The bond with the family lasted a lifetime. Don was part of the Green Bay Yacht club serving as secretary from 1964-1967 and Commodore in 1968.  He has been a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus. Don’s hobbies included bowling, boating, reading every World War II book possible and visiting important battle locations in Europe, playing cards and watching the Packers. Everyone experienced Don’s big heart, generosity, and passion for helping others. His love of animals was evident with the number of dogs and cats they had over the years.  Don’s passion for life and drive were telling by his survival of 4 different kinds of cancers and a stroke.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Bernard and Russel and wife Audrey. Continuing his legacy are their children Mary Blahnik (René van den Akker) Geldrop, The Netherlands and Jenny Blahnik (Eric Hohenwalter) Pewaukee, WI and 6 wonderful grandchildren whom he adored, Willem, Audrey, Laurentien, Elise, Anna-Sophie and George.

Visitation will be held Thursday January 23 from 4pm-7pm at Lyndahl Funeral Home 1350 Lombardi Ave. Green Bay, WI. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday January 24 at 11am at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church 2771 Oakwood Dr. Green Bay with visitation before the Mass from 9am-11am.  A luncheon will follow the Mass at the church. Entombment will take place at Allouez Catholic Cemetery at 2:30pm.  The events will be livestreamed on the Lyndahl Funeral Home Facebook page.  The family would thank Don’s wonderful neighbors for their unconditional support over the past few years as well as Froedtert Hospital, Dr. Edward Bongiorno at Bellin Health Green Bay and Dr. Stein de Ridder and the cardiology staff at St. Anna Ziekenhuis, Geldrop, The Netherlands.

Expressions of sympathy can be made to the family by visiting www.lyndahl.com

The Lyndahl Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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