Cover photo for Thomas Elwood Blanchard's Obituary
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1933 Thomas 2024

Thomas Elwood Blanchard

August 3, 1933 — October 22, 2024

Grand Isalnd

Thomas E. Blanchard, 91, of Grand Island, NE died on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, October 28, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grand Island with Reverend Adam Snoberger officiating. Burial will be in the Cotesfield Cemetery in Cotesfield, NE at 2 P.M. Visitation will be on Sunday from 5 to 7 P.M. at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated to Trinity Lutheran Church. Apfel Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements, online condolences may be left at www.apfelfuneralhome.com. 

Tom was born on August 3, 1933 at Cotesfield, NE to Thomas “Elwood” and Rose (Donscheski) Blanchard. He graduated from Scotia High School with the class of 1952. 

He married Eileen Johnson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grand Island on September 13, 1960. The couple then resided in Grand Island where Tom worked for Frontier Airlines for many years before working for Continental Airlines in Omaha. After his “retirement” he worked in maintenance for Dynasty. Tom could fix just about anything and enjoyed getting things back into working order. He also enjoyed wood working and would build a variety of things. 

Tom is survived by his wife, Eileen Blanchard; daughters: Cheryl (Scott) Massman of Scotia and Teresa (Ben) Faltys of Raymond; son, Troy (Erika) of Troy, OH; grandchildren: Ryan (Kylie) Massman, Riley Massman, Ethan and Trenton Blanchard, Beckett and Caden Faltys; great grandchild, Crosby Massman; as well as many nieces and nephews. 

He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Peggy Hughes, Velma Crist, and Ellen Zabloudil; infant sister, Daphne; and many other loved ones. 

 

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thomas Elwood Blanchard, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Sunday, October 27, 2024

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Apfel Funeral Home Inc - Grand Island

1123 W 2nd St, Grand Island, NE 68801

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Funeral Service

Monday, October 28, 2024

10:30 - 11:30 am (Central time)

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Burial

Monday, October 28, 2024

2:00 - 3:00 pm (Central time)

Cotesfield Cemetery

Cotesfield, NE 68835

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