Mabel Arlene Vankat

Mabel Arlene (Klabunde) Vankat June 18, 1924 - September 13, 2019 Mabel was born near Irvington, NE on June 18, 1924; the firstborn child of August and Lena(Andresen) Klabunde. She grew up on farms near Irvington and graduated from Irvington High School in 1942. Mabel and James Carl (Jim) Vankat were united in marriage on July 7, 1945 in Dayton, Ohio.After Jim's discharge from the US Army Air Force , Mabel and Jim returned home to Omaha. On July 7, 1948 Mabel gave birth to their only child; a son James Lee (Jim). Her husband of 51 years preceded her in death on November 20, 1996. Mabel and Robert (Bob) Blakeman were married in Omaha, NE on April 4, 2000. Bob preceded her in death on February 1, 2019. Mabel was a bookkeeper during her working career. Up until her final illness, she managed her own finances (with a little help from her daughter-in-law Mary)! She was a member of the VFW Post 2503 Zeta Anderson Auxiliary and MOCA "Bugeaters" Puptent #10 Auxiliary. She was a past President of both Auxiliaries. For many years, Mabel was the cashier at VFW 2503 hamburger nights. Mabel and Jim were travelers; they visited almost every State, traveled to several European Countries, to Islands in the South Atlantic and to Venezuela. In their early years together, Mabel and Bob were also travelers; attending Bob's Ship Reunions several times. Mabel enjoyed knitting (until arthritis made it difficult for her to hold the needles) and made afghans that she gifted to her Family. Most recently she enjoyed doing Word Search Puzzles and playing Slots and Solitaire on her computer. Mabel enjoyed sending and receiving email and enjoyed keeping up with people on Facebook. She loved being a Grandma and Great Grandma. Mabel's granddaughter and great-granddaughter are left with fond memories of time spent with their "Grandma Mee-bel," the name her great granddaughter Emilee gave her. Mabel was a caregiver; she took wonderful care of her husbands Jim and Bob during their illnesses. Mabel is survived by her daughter-in-law Mary Vankat, her granddaughter Michelle Vankat-Hill (Terrance), a great granddaughter Emilee Vankat-Jontz, a sister Marian Paasch, 2 brothers Erwin (Elaine) Klabunde and Donald (Delores) Thompson, a sister-in-law Margaret Christensen, 5 step daughters, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to her husbands, Mabel was preceded in death by her son Jim, her parents, an infant brother and an infant sister.