Kenneth Joseph Blankemeyer

Three years later, and it's still hard to process. Not only a brilliant professor, but a dear friend. The cherished memories of our brilliant badinage in our Philosophy, Logic courses together, as well as out side the classroom, the self-disclose are supremely appreciated. Your genuine nature and genius shall always shine through in my dark days. He is perhaps the most influential soul in my life. I miss you immensely. All the Best to the Best, Kent

I took five of Dr. Blankemeyer’s classes. I first took his logic class in the Spring of ‘01 and he inspired a lifelong love affair with knowledge and learning. I hope he knew what a significant impact he had on a 19 year old boy from East Tulsa. Dr. Blankemeyer always gave extra credit for showing up to the philosophical society meetings. I never needed it, but always went. Those are some of my fondest memories of that part of my life. He was such a great man and I think of him a lot. My heart breaks for his friends and family and for the world at large.

Ken was such a good friend to Virginia and me. When Virginia joined the faculty at TCC her office was next to Ken's, and after a time, they began to help each other according to their talents. For example, when TCC began to require that grades be submitted online, Ken found the process very frustrating, and Virginia would often submit his grades for him. He, in turn, did us many favors. The picture shows Ken at our daughter Jennifer's wedding; an occasion to which many of the TCC faculty came as a favor (a much appreciated favor!) to Virginia. For many months, he provided a cart which I would fill with dirt (because there was run-off from the gated community that was built right behind our house), and he would take away the dirt and then bring back the empty cart. He also helped us move out of my apartment in Stillwater after I no longer needed it. He gave us cutting boards which he made and which are still in use. But I also saw him help other people with similar projects--moving, building things. He was so helpful, active, involved, knowledgeable; he always seemed busy. If he was not running the Faculty Forum or organizing the academic celebration of the Civil War's sesquicentennial, then he was arranging for a Saturday night dinner out with a few friends--although the latter may have been some of Cindy's doing. It is hard to believe that he is not here. He is missed.

In 1970, I lived in the apartment building Ken managed, Lincoln Village, near Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale, Ill. I was fortunate to become one of his friends, along with several other Lincoln Village residents who, like me, were graduate students at SIU. Ken had such empathy for others. For example, he knew that I was going through a rough patch at SIU, and he wanted to lift my spirits. So one day, after I returned from a Christmas break, I opened my apartment door and found a 3-foot-high, artfully crafted candle holder (with scented candle) standing in the hall. Ken had made that gift, and it meant to world to me. I toted it with me whenever I moved anywhere, considering it my symbol of light overcoming darkness. Ken also was so generous. I mentioned one time that I loved his bluebird houses. A month later, UPS delivered a huge, heavy box with two birdhouses inside. Ken paid $60 (in the 1970s!) to ship those birdhouses. Over the past 50 years, Ken and I, along with our mutual friends Patty, Jeanette, Stan, Margaret and Mareile, have met periodically around the U.S. — including Oklahoma, Maryland, Kansas, Iowa, California and Minnesota — as a way to stay in touch. Last fall, we met in Des Moines, Iowa, in part to mourn for two of our friends: Patty, who died in 2018, and Jeanette, who died in May of 2019. Ken always urged us to have these get-togethers and would scold us if we dragged our heels making them happen. “You never know when this will be the last time we see each other!” he would say. How profoundly and sadly prophetic those words would be. My deepest sympathy, Cindy. I know Ken loved you with all his heart, and I know you felt the same about him.

I worked with Ken for 27 years at TJC/TCC. I very much admired that Ken was not afraid to speak truth to power, and he delighted in tweaking the noses of administrators who imposed their poor decisions on faculty, staff, and students. Ken enjoyed many such opportunities. The photo I've attached is Ken at an outdoor faculty meeting in the newly opened Center for Creativity in 2009. He will be missed.

I had the pleasure of knowing Ken for close to 40 years. It all started in my late 20's when my best friend, Audrey Alcorn and I lived in Carbondale, Illinois, attending Southern Illinois University. We lived in an apartment complex called Lincoln Village. Ken was the manager of the complex and his friend Bill Rose was the assistant manager. Audrey and I kind of got a corner on the market, so to speak, as she married Ken and I married Bill Rose. Years later, after Bill and I split up, I moved to Tulsa Oklahoma, where Ken & Audrey had been living, while teaching at Tulsa Junior College (Tulsa Community College today.)I remember when I first moved to Tulsa, I lived with Ken & Audrey for awhile until I found an apartment. I used to accompany them to breakfast every weekend at The Camelot...a hotel built to look like a castle, that was eventually torn down. I used to go on and on about the things I was doing, some of which were stupid. Ken only had one thing to say...."don't be a blockhead". I didn't see much of Ken after he and Audrey got divorced, but I always enjoyed knowing that he was out there and often thought...what would Ken think about this? or...Ken would love this. He did have very impressive construction skills. I have attached a pic of him building his barn. Always sorry it was just a back end shot and didn't show his face. I know he'd kill me for attaching the other pic of him and Audrey, but that suit was too great to pass up. I will always be thankful that I had the chance to know Ken. Rae B. Faltysek

Dr Blankemeyer was simply the most impactful teacher I ever had. He did not know that, and for that I am sorry. I took his Honors Philosophy class in the 1980s, and in it, he taught me to question my beliefs and assumptions and pretty much everything. He also helped me learn how to learn, and I think that is one of the most valuable things one can gain from college. I will always remember him, and my thoughts are with his family. Jeffrey D. Wheeler

I worked and socialized with Ken for about 40 years at TJC/TCC. Ken was a faculty warrior for improving teaching and learning conditions. He worked with the faculty and staff with determination resulting in many of the improvements faculty take for granted today. In those early days it was the wild west at TJC. There was a faculty association to form, a faculty newspaper to keep us informed and a community college to build. Ken was a relentless leader for the faculty and students. We saw ourselves as a family back then. We battled for better teaching conditions, reasonable pay, and more control of the direction the college was going. Ken was an outspoken leader in all areas. If there is a 10am coffee break in heaven he will be there with Hank Comby, Joe Blackman and Chris Brown. There will be loud discussions and lots of loud laughter. Ken will be missed by all who knew him.