Elsie N. Blanka

Elsie N. Blanka (Mast), 94, of Junction City, KS, passed away on Wednesday August 28th, 2019, at Valley View Senior Life Center. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, October 12th, at the Johnson Funeral Home of Junction City. A reception will follow the service.

Elsie was born on October 12th, 1924 in McPherson, KS to Lee and Lilly Mast (Lindgren). She graduated from McPherson High School, Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia and took masters classes at Kansas State. She taught music in the Junction City schools of Departmental, Washington Elementary and Franklin Elementary. She married her husband, Harley A. Blanka (deceased) on December 23, 1951. Elsie had three daughters: one by marriage and two by birth; Myrna Weis (deceased), Michele Barbian of Chanute, KS and Karen Greiling of Fishers, IN. She is also survived by sons-in-law, James Weis, Olathe, KS, Chris Greiling, Fishers, IN, seven grand and great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Elsie often commented on the full and varied life that she experienced. She was grateful that she had been able to travel widely within the US and Europe, enjoyed the company of family and friends, and was an avid reader. She enjoyed playing cards, and, of course, loved listening to, singing or performing music of many genres.

Elsie was a member and active in the First United Methodist Church, The Junction City Schools Retired Personnel­, PEO, and Delta Kappa Gamma. After retirement, she volunteered for several years at Westwood Elementary School.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be mailed directly to either: The First United Methodist Church, 804 N. Jefferson St., Junction City, KS 66441 (memo line: Blanka Memorial) OR The Junction City Association of Retired School Personnel (JCARSP), P.O. Box 721, Junction City, KS, 66441 (memo line: Harley A. and Elsie Blanka Memorial Scholarship)

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