Obituary for David Joseph Blank
David J. Blank, 78, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on
September 14, 2020.
David was born in Cincinnati, OH on August 11, 1942. He married his wife of 56 years, Carol Ann
Hartweck on August 8, 1964. David is survived by Carol, his sister, Sr. Mary Austin Blank OSB., and his
children, Mary Blank (Ken), Beverly Blank, Carl Blank (Marcie) and Barb Schollmeyer (Jim). He is also
survived by 8 grandchildren Beatrice, April (Javier), Carolann (Carlos), Jalyn (Tyler), Justin, Erica,
Courtney and Collin and 7 great grandchildren, Ariza, Cherish, Jeremy, Izayah, JayR, Ezekyelꭞ and Wyatt.
David was the most loving husband, great brother, wonderful father, good friend and a deeply devout
Catholic. David and Carol met while performing in the musical play Tom Sawyer, in Jasper, Indiana.
They were dance partners.
Shortly after getting married, they moved to West Virginia where their first three children Mary, Beverly
and Carl were born. Their fourth child, Barbara was born in Lexington, KY. They then lived in
Elizabethtown and Cecilia, KY where David built homes and sold building supplies for Norandex in
Louisville, KY.
One of David’s favorite pastimes was coaching. He coached Carl’s baseball team for many years. His
famous phrase “walk it off” was born to his players, as they were injured during a game. Years later he
laughed as he heard his own children saying the same to their kids and nieces and nephews.
David and Carol moved to Arizona in October, 1983. David’s mom had recently passed away, so they
moved the family West to be near his dad.
Prior to 9/11 David was one of the heads of security at Sky Harbor. He loved the job because he had the
chance to manage a great group people and meet lots of different folks. David always had a joke and
entertained everyone going through the security lines.
With the change in security after 9/11 David decided to be a special needs school bus driver. Everyone
who knew him was familiar with his woody woodpecker and jiminy cricket impressions, and he could
“bark” so well, the kids would look for a dog. The children loved being on Mr. Dave’s bus. Even after he
suffered his loss of vision, he continued to be on the bus as an aide to make the kids laugh. He was also
the best Santa Claus for the school district for many years.
David was active at Queen of Peace parish in Mesa, AZ for many years. He performed and sang in the
parish plays, and when he wasn’t performing he was most often the emcee. David and Carol remained
very active in the Arizona Peace Center, where he emceed the conferences in Arizona until his sight
prevented him from continuing.
David has been blessed with good friends. He was best of friends with his elementary and high school
classmates, Fr. Tom Denneman, Frank and Madelyn DeRose and Diana Aseere as well as the friendships
forged throughout the years with the prayer group from St. Anne’s, the Board members of the Arizona
Peace Center and many more.
David loved his family most of all. As the grandkids came along, they all became very familiar with his
impressions and he could get that crying baby to stop at the sound of that bark. He enjoyed attending
every event possible for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Holidays have always been
big and loud and David was usually right in the center of getting all the little ones going.
David was so dearly loved and will be deeply missed. I am sure he touched your life in some way and
the family is grateful for your love and support.
If you would like to offer condolences, a visitation will be held at Falconer Funeral Home, in Gilbert, AZ
on Monday, September 21, 2020 from 6 to 8 pm with a Rosary service at 7 pm.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church, in Gilbert, AZ, on Tuesday, September 22, 2020
at 10:00 am. A reception will immediately follow at McQueen Park Activity Center at 510 North Horne
Street, Gilbert, AZ.
September 14, 2020.
David was born in Cincinnati, OH on August 11, 1942. He married his wife of 56 years, Carol Ann
Hartweck on August 8, 1964. David is survived by Carol, his sister, Sr. Mary Austin Blank OSB., and his
children, Mary Blank (Ken), Beverly Blank, Carl Blank (Marcie) and Barb Schollmeyer (Jim). He is also
survived by 8 grandchildren Beatrice, April (Javier), Carolann (Carlos), Jalyn (Tyler), Justin, Erica,
Courtney and Collin and 7 great grandchildren, Ariza, Cherish, Jeremy, Izayah, JayR, Ezekyelꭞ and Wyatt.
David was the most loving husband, great brother, wonderful father, good friend and a deeply devout
Catholic. David and Carol met while performing in the musical play Tom Sawyer, in Jasper, Indiana.
They were dance partners.
Shortly after getting married, they moved to West Virginia where their first three children Mary, Beverly
and Carl were born. Their fourth child, Barbara was born in Lexington, KY. They then lived in
Elizabethtown and Cecilia, KY where David built homes and sold building supplies for Norandex in
Louisville, KY.
One of David’s favorite pastimes was coaching. He coached Carl’s baseball team for many years. His
famous phrase “walk it off” was born to his players, as they were injured during a game. Years later he
laughed as he heard his own children saying the same to their kids and nieces and nephews.
David and Carol moved to Arizona in October, 1983. David’s mom had recently passed away, so they
moved the family West to be near his dad.
Prior to 9/11 David was one of the heads of security at Sky Harbor. He loved the job because he had the
chance to manage a great group people and meet lots of different folks. David always had a joke and
entertained everyone going through the security lines.
With the change in security after 9/11 David decided to be a special needs school bus driver. Everyone
who knew him was familiar with his woody woodpecker and jiminy cricket impressions, and he could
“bark” so well, the kids would look for a dog. The children loved being on Mr. Dave’s bus. Even after he
suffered his loss of vision, he continued to be on the bus as an aide to make the kids laugh. He was also
the best Santa Claus for the school district for many years.
David was active at Queen of Peace parish in Mesa, AZ for many years. He performed and sang in the
parish plays, and when he wasn’t performing he was most often the emcee. David and Carol remained
very active in the Arizona Peace Center, where he emceed the conferences in Arizona until his sight
prevented him from continuing.
David has been blessed with good friends. He was best of friends with his elementary and high school
classmates, Fr. Tom Denneman, Frank and Madelyn DeRose and Diana Aseere as well as the friendships
forged throughout the years with the prayer group from St. Anne’s, the Board members of the Arizona
Peace Center and many more.
David loved his family most of all. As the grandkids came along, they all became very familiar with his
impressions and he could get that crying baby to stop at the sound of that bark. He enjoyed attending
every event possible for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Holidays have always been
big and loud and David was usually right in the center of getting all the little ones going.
David was so dearly loved and will be deeply missed. I am sure he touched your life in some way and
the family is grateful for your love and support.
If you would like to offer condolences, a visitation will be held at Falconer Funeral Home, in Gilbert, AZ
on Monday, September 21, 2020 from 6 to 8 pm with a Rosary service at 7 pm.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church, in Gilbert, AZ, on Tuesday, September 22, 2020
at 10:00 am. A reception will immediately follow at McQueen Park Activity Center at 510 North Horne
Street, Gilbert, AZ.