North Shore Obituary: Walter Henry Blanck Jr.

The following obituary is courtesy of Kelley and Spalding Funeral Home and Crematory.

Walter Henry Blanck Jr. of Vernon Hills Illinois and formally of Deerfield, left this world peacefully on May 4th at age 86. He is survived by the love of his life, Jeanette, to whom he was married 63 years, their children Kenneth (Irene, deceased), Janice (Richard Wiles) and Shari (John Benson), and 5 grandchildren David, Luke, Meredith, Ashley and Hannah. He is pre-deceased by his parents Walter Sr. and Marie, and his brother Kenneth.

Born in Chicago in 1928 to German and Italian immigrants, Walt’s parents moved their family to Indianapolis, Indiana where Stewart Warner employed Walt Blanck, Sr, and Walt Jr. attended Ben Davis High School. As a 15 year old Walt won the Stewart Warner “Suggestion Award” for his idea for a belt sander tool for holding plated parts in the metallurgy lab.

Walter was an enthusiastic outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman and Eagle Scout. As Scout Leader for Deerfield’s Scout Troop #152 he earned Order of the Arrow and participated in Camp Makajawan with son Ken.

Walter received his undergraduate degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Purdue University in 1951 and subsequently took post-graduate courses at Michigan State, Notre Dame and University of Wisconsin in Business, Management and Manufacturing. His education served him well in his long engineering and manufacturing career with Whirlpool Corporation in St Joseph, Michigan and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) in Chicago.

After college he started Naval Officer Training in Newport RI where the Navy awarded him the “Americanism Medal”, the Navy’s Top Training Award. Walt served as Lieutenant JG Ship Supervisor and oversaw the re-commissioning of the USS Ray SSR-271 submarine in Philadelphia. The Navy transferred him to the Great Lakes in 1953 to oversee building military ships; he was honorably discharged in 1955.

Walt was one of the founders and organizing members of the modern Austin-Healey Club of America (AHCA), and is named the “visionary” behind a national organization and the annual event he named “Conclave”. He had unlimited stories about dragging home and rebuilding Austin Healeys with son Ken, creating the AHCA with wife Jeanette, driving across country to Conclave – what is now an international event attracting thousands, to hosting Donald Healey at his home in the 70s.

For over 40 years Walter served his community both through Kiwanis and Lions Clubs. He led the Lions Club Lights Program for the Blind to address needs of sight challenged Deerfield residents. Walter was driven to give back to his community, and actively did since he was a young scout. In his honor the family would appreciate any contributions go to the Deerfield Lions Club (memo: Walter Blanck/Lights Program).

A Memorial Service, an Interment and Celebration of Walt Blanck’s life will be held on Saturday, June 13th at 2:30pm at the St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 815 Wilmot Rd, Deerfield Il. All are welcome to attend.

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