A Funeral Mass for Blanche Havranek, age 93, of O'Neill, will be 10:30 AM Monday, May 7, 2018 , at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill.  Burial will be in the O'Neill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Sunday May 6, 2018 with a 6:30 PM Parish Rosary, at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Blanche passed away Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at the Parkside Manor in Stuart.

Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation.  Biglin's Mortuary will be in charge of arrangements.

Blanche Marie Barrett was born August 3 ^rd , 1924 to Edward Michael Barrett and Dorothy (Dollie) Martha Vrooman Barrett, of Atkinson, Nebraska.

Blanche spoke often about living on the Barrett farm, writing "my sister and I spent many hours playing in the Elkhorn River that ran through our farm west of Emmet. We watched our paper sailboats float with the breeze, and dug for clams in the river sand, and built castles on the sandbar."

She attended District School #76 and graduated high school in 1942 at St. Joseph's Hall in Atkinson.

Blanche also wrote about growing up: "What fun to go ice skating, meeting with the neighbor kids! We met at the bridge, we all gathered sticks to build a bonfire out on the bar and sat on logs to warm up. It was a happy time."

She was employed at Bailin Brothers Variety Store in Atkinson for 3 years, and then, in 1946, she said she "met and married the man of my dreams, Charles L. Havranek. We were blessed with 7 caring children: Dottie, Charlene, Erin, Jerry, Jan, Bill and Gale".

They lived in O'Neill, Nebraska, where Charles worked for James Davidson and Sons, and Blanche stayed home to care for her children. She later worked at Gambles and, after Charles passed away in 1981, she remained in O'Neill and worked for William Brothers and Sack & Save for 16 years.

She spent her retirement years speaking about all the people she remembered, and she could always tell anyone who was from the area how she knew them and how we're all connected. We will miss her incredible storytelling and wonderful sense of humor.

Blanche is survived by her children, Dottie Gokie and husband, Larry, of O'Neill, Charlene LaRue and husband, Gary, of Chambers, Erin Zakrzewski and husband, Paul, of O'Neill, Jerry Havranek of O'Neill, Jan Havranek of Lincoln, Bill Havranek of Gering, and Gale Lieb of O'Neill; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Joan (Gokie) and Ron Brion of Lincoln, Sister M. Josephine (Kayla) of Waukesha, WI, and Brandon of Lincoln; Laura (Gokie) and Scott Dvorak and Nathan of Potter; Steve and Belinda Gokie, Livia and Mason of Sioux Falls, SD; Luke and Becky Zakrzewski, Jacob, Owen and Avery of Doniphan; Matt Zakrzewski of Lincoln; Stacey (Zakrzewski) and Jason Naiman, Alex, Brylee and Camrie of Kearney; Tress Nelson of Lincoln; Brad Havranek of Omaha; Dominic Havranek and Sadie and baby due in September of Melbeta; Sara Lieb of O'Neill, and Ryan Lieb of Omaha; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father (April 20 ^th , 1945); her mother (November 26, 1970); her husband (September 21 ^st , 1981); her sister, Dorothy Rita Barrett (October 31 ^st , 1946); and granddaughters, Jennifer Gokie (May 21 ^st , 2011) and Hali Barrett Nelson (April 19, 2005).

Pallbearers are grandsons: Steve Gokie, Luke Zakrzewski, Matt Zakrzewski, Brad Havranek, Ryan Lieb and Dominic Havranek.

Honorary Pallbearers: Ron Brion, Scott Dvorak and Jason Naiman.