Bruce L. Blankenship

January 16, 1957 - December 27, 2020

Bruce L. Blankenship, age 63, of Kearney, passed away Sunday, December 27, 2020 at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., January 5, 2021 at St. James Catholic Church. Burial will follow the service at Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, January 4, 2021 at Horner Lieske McBride Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Kearney Catholic High School Foundation, Kearney Community Foundation, or the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department. Due to the current mask mandate, a face mask is required by those attending the visitation and memorial service. The service will be livestreamed and can viewed at https://stjameschurchkearney.org/ Bruce Blankenship was born on January 16, 1957 in Superior, Nebraska to Alvin (Dale) and Virginia Blankenship. The family moved to Kearney in the spring of 1966. He married Tammy Davenport on March 15, 1986. Bruce was a graduate of Kearney High School and Kearney State College (UNK). His professional career spanned 40 plus years and includes stints as a staff member and President of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, York Chamber of Commerce, Buffalo County Visitors Bureau, Executive Director of the Kearney Catholic High School Foundation and Business Development Officer at Farmers and Merchants Bank. He had further professional relationships with the Nebraska Independent Crop Consultant Association, Ward Laboratories, Inc., Nebraska Charolais Association, Nebraska Seed Trade Association and others through a part time consulting business. While employed by the Chamber of Commerce, Bruce worked with others to organize and initiate the Kearney Visitors Bureau, Economic Development Council of Buffalo County, Leadership Kearney and the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic. Further he played a role in bringing Richard Young Hospital, Construction Rental, Midway Chevrolet, Cabela’s and other businesses to Kearney. At the KCHS Foundation, he helped organize and implement the GOLD Dinner and Auction, was involved in fundraising for three school building additions, a comprehensive classroom remodeling project and additional operational support to the school. He also worked with others to create a faculty retirement fund at Kearney Catholic and numerous scholarship and special project funds to benefit KCHS students. Bruce was elected to two terms on the Kearney City Council beginning in 1996 and it was his honor to serve as Mayor from 2002-2004. Over the years he served as a board member or in other leadership roles for the Buffalo County American Red Cross, KSC/UNK Alumni Association, Kearney Public Schools Foundation, Economic Development Council, The Archway Foundation, Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce (ex-officio) and as a 30-year volunteer for the Goodfellows. He and his wife co-chaired the GOLD Dinner and Auction, he co-chaired the United Way Annual Campaign, was part of the Chamber committee helping move Kearney State College to the University system and served on the Buffalo County Fair Board when big name entertainment was added to the county fair line-up. However, he took the most joy in his 34-year marriage to Tammy and watching the achievements of his sons Brett, Brock and daughter-in-law Chloe. There was never enough time for his grandsons Titus and Asher who he loved so dearly. He is survived by his wife, Tammy Blankenship of Kearney; sons, Brett Blankenship of Omaha, Brock and Chloe Blankenship of Lincoln and their sons Titus and Asher; brother, Al and Sandy Blankenship of Waverly; sister, Debbie Brian Craig of Omaha; sister-in-law, Marge Blankenship of Kearney; father-in-law, Bob Davenport of Overton; sister-in-law Konnie and Kevin Turner of Overton; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Virginia Blankenship; brother Gary; nephew, Tim; mother-in-law, Lillias Davenport; and brother-in-law, Danny Davenport.