Ann Therese Gurnett Blanco

Ann Therese Gurnett Blanco was born on October 18, 1929, to John (Jack) Gurnett and Charlotte (Lottie) Smith Gurnett. She was the eighth child in the family, and grew up loved and appreciated in her home in DePue, Illinois. Her childhood brimmed over with joy: having fun with sisters and cousins, ice skating on a frozen Lake DePue, twirling her baton in local parades, playing clarinet in the school band, cheerleading for the DePue Little Giants, attending Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church, and falling head over heels in love with Art Blanco, her high school sweetheart and forever love. Ann viewed motherhood to her children as a godsend and privilege that brought her unfathomable delight. She passed away peacefully at age 96 on March 1, 2026.

Ann graduated from DePue High in 1947, then attended the Minnesota Institute Of Technology in Minneapolis/St. Paul, training as a Medical Laboratory Technician. After completing that program, she returned home and worked as a Lab Tech in a hospital in Princeton, Illinois. During this time, Art had enlisted in the military and was stationed in Japan with the U.S. Army of occupation, then attended TriState College on the GI Bill. Every day, Ann wrote a letter to Art and devoted much of her time and energy to him while they endured this separation.

Ann and Art were married on September 22, 1951. At the start of their marriage, they lived in Mendota, IL. They moved to Pana, IL, where all five of their children were born. Next they lived in Springfield, IL; Terre Haute, IN; Sheldon, IA; Sioux City, IA; and Kansas City, MO. As Art took new jobs and looked for better opportunities for his family, Ann dutifully packed up the house and kids many times fostering Art's pursuits. Ann's willingness to make each move is a testament to her devotion to Art, her unwavering and unconditional support, and her commitment to her love and marriage. Ann's greatest passions and joys were her husband, her children, and her Catholic faith.

After Art's sudden passing in 1999, Ann reimagined and reinvented her life in Kansas City without him. She became active with a group of other widows who dined out together every Friday night, was engaged in a prayer group at her church, continued her practice of attending daily Mass, and exercised in a water aerobics class. In 2013, she relocated to Maple Grove, MN, to be closer to her kids. She became a member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, avidly attended exercise classes, enjoyed frequent visits from her children and their families, and dearly loved her friends in, and the mission of, the Angel Quilters group at church.

Ann lived a bountiful, blessed, and beautiful life, always lifted by faith and family. She is survived by her five children: Daniel Blanco of Kamiah, ID; Jule Blanco Kappes Boskey of Bozeman, MT; Dr. Michael Blanco of Rochester, MN; Mary (Steve) Kriz of Maple Grove, MN; and Laura (Bert) Miller of Firestone, CO. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren: Daniel (Amelie) Kappes, Maria (Rob) Kappes Holden, Alex Kriz, Kevin Kriz, Libby (Wes) Kriz Gail, Tyler Miller, Anna (Alex) Miller Goldman, and Johanna Blanco. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Benjamin Kappes, James Kappes, Julia Holden, Elizabeth Holden, Ayla Goldman, and Avi Goldman.

A celebration of Ann's life will be held at a later date to be determined. Memorials may be directed to Angel Quilters at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 7180 Hemlock Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55369.