Roland D. “Rollie” Blanchett, 83, of Stonecrest in Summerfield, FL, passed away May 14, 2018 after a courageous battle with colon cancer.
He was born in South Milwaukee, WI May 26, 1934 and was preceded in death by his parents Luther and Vay Blanchett, sister Neta Cyr and brother-in-law Francis Demet. Rollie is survived by his wife of 60 years Mary Ellen (Dee), the former Mary Ellen Demet, and five children: Claire, Minneapolis; Jenny (Aaron Morse), Afton, WY; Kurt (Shelly Goldstrand), Minneapolis; Jay (Melissa Fitzsimmons), Shorewood, WI; and Neal (Mia), Edina, MN; eight grandchildren: Camille, Simone, Codee, Nichole, Colin, Ivy, August and Jasper. Further survived by great-grandchildren, brothers-in-law Paul Demet (Mary Eva), Paul Cyr, sister-in-law Margadette Demet, and numerous nieces and nephews.
High school was an especially formative time for Rollie. One highlight: He was a starter on the South Milwaukee High School 1952 State Championship Basketball team. He remained lifelong friends with many of his teammates. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the armistice office in Korea. Rollie received his M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was a microbiologist with Green Giant-Pillsbury for over 30 years, mostly in Le Sueur, MN. He was instrumental in implementing food manufacturing safety processes around the world.
After retiring in 1992, he and Dee moved to Lake Suzy, FL and later to Summerfield, FL.
Rollie was hooked on golf from his first round with his mother at age 8. He was an excellent player–club champion twice! His green thumb was exceptional; he had a knack for growing flowering plants–especially orchids. He loved tinkering, fixing things, and inventing gadgets to make life a little easier. He had an amazing memory for songs of his youth and sang snippets of them throughout the day. He was also a lover of sports of all types, especially the Badgers and Packers.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at St. Mark The Evangelist Church, 7081 E Hwy. 42, Summerfield. Burial of Ashes will be at a later date in the family area at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, South Milwaukee.
Memorials may be made to your favorite charity.
