John Leonard Blank, III

Merrillville

John L. Blank, III, age 52, of Merrillville passed away on Monday, June 13, 2011.

He is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Laura (nee, Hessling) Blank of Merrillville;

2 sons, Andrew John and Mark Blank both of Merrillville;

Parents, John and Jackie Blank of Crown Point;

Father and Mother-in-law: Larry and Judy Hessling of Wheatfield;

one sister, Janice (Gregg) O'Neill of Crown Point;

one sister-in-law, Julie (Jim) Clark of Waynesville, OH

2 nieces, Malinda and Caitlin O'Neill;

one nephew, Jordan Clark and many aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of dear friends.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of John L. Blank, III will be held on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. DIRECTLY at Jack Hyles Memorial Auditorium, 523 Sibley Blvd., Hammond with Dr. Jack Schaap and Dr. Dave Douglass officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Lane Cemetery in Schererville.

Friends are invited to meet with the family on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at Bocken Funeral Home, 7042 Kennedy Avenue, Hammond (Hessville) from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

John has been a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Hammond for over 27 years. For the past 25 years he drove a church bus on Sunday morning and taught Sunday school for 8 years in the Primary 1 Dept. He worked for Mike's Sporting Goods in Merrillville for more than 17 years. John was a devoted family man and enjoyed spending time with his son's. He was a loving and kind husband, father, son and brother. John always had a ready smile and a kind word for everyone he met and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

For more information you may call Bocken Funeral Home at (219)-844-1600 or you may visit us at: www.bockenfunerals.com.