In Memory of Blanche Bartizal Babcock ’53
BLANCHE BARTIZAL BABCOCK ’53 of Three Lakes, Wisconsin, died May 21. 2021. At Ripon, she majored in philosophy and psychology and participated in Ver Adest and Alpha Gamma Theta. She was a longtime benefactor and supporter of various Ripon College initiatives, was instrumental in the Babcock Family Endowed Scholarship and received the Medal of Merit in 2006. She received a master’s degree in education from the National School of Education and worked for many years as an elementary school teacher in Rondout, Illinois. She was active in her communities both in Illinois and Wisconsin. Survivors include one son and two daughters, including TIMOTHY BABCOCK ’82 and KATHERINE BABCOCK ’80; a daughter-in-law, SARA OBERHAUSER BABCOCK ’83; and a grandson, PETER BABCOCK ’09. Her husband, THOMAS BABCOCK ’51, died in 2002.
Full Obituary:
Blanche Bartizal Babcock, age 91, of Three Lakes, WI, died on Friday, May 21st at her beloved home on Butternut Lake, surrounded by her family and her long-time four-legged companion Sniffy.
Blanche was born on April 14th, 1930 in Riverside, IL, the daughter of Dr. John and Henrietta (Nee Skala) Bartizal. Blanche grew up in Riverside, IL, graduating from Sacred Heart Academy.
She graduated with a BA in philosophy from Ripon College. Subsequently she earned her Master’s Degree in Education at the National School of Education. Blanche worked many years as an elementary school teacher in Rondout, IL.
In 1954 she married Thomas Babcock, her partner for the next 48 years, with whom she had three children, daughters Nancy and Kathy, and son Tim.
They lived in Winnetka, IL for 17 years, where she was actively involved in the community. In 1986, she and her husband Tom moved to their summer home on Butternut Lake in the Nicole National Forest.
After moving to the Northwoods she was a founding member of Company B of the Hiles Volunteer Fire Department. Additionally, she volunteered for the hospital auxiliary, palliative care, the Native American Archeological excavations group, and the Butternut-Franklin Lakes Association and Foundation.
She is survived by her three children, Nancy (Roman) Ciapalo of Dubuque, IA; Kathy Babcock of Waukegan, IL; Tim (Sara) Babcock of Jefferson, WI; two grandchildren Peter and Bridget (who knew her as Babi); sister, Henrietta Pons, of Winnetka, IL; brother Paul Bartizal of Tennessee; and sister-in-laws Sally Barnhart of Phoenix, AZ, Susan Burt of Dana Point, CA, Bonnie Lyon of Eagle River, WI, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Dr. John Bartizal Jr., and her granddaughter-in-law Ellen Mae Stone Babcock.
There will be no service or visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Butternut Franklin Lakes Foundation, the Thomas and Blanche Babcock Family Scholarship Fund at Ripon College, or a charity of your choice.