Robert Raymond Blank

Robert Raymond Blank Robert Blank, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. Bob was born to Frank and Rose Blank on October 9, 1950 in Milwaukee, WI. He met his wife Ginny when they were attending the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. They married in February of 1975 and lived in South Dakota where Bob worked as a soil scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture until moving to Idaho in 1980 where Bob earned his Ph. D. in Soil Science at the University of Idaho. In 1987, Bob and the family moved to Reno NV where Bob returned to USDA Agricultural Research Service as a research scientist. He was a well-respected in his field, well published, and a mentor to many. When he retired from the USDA after forty years in August of 2018, he was thrilled to be called back to the lab by the University of Nevada, Reno where he has worked part-time since. Bob loved his family and with them enjoyed all things. He was a wonderful husband and an amazing father. Becoming a grandfather was icing on the cake and he so enjoyed spending time with Lily. He enjoyed life: family card night, dancing every Friday, playing trivia at various venues, cookie day and family soup-off. He took daily hikes and was an avid photographer. Bob is survived by his wife, Ginny, his son Bart and wife Grace, his daughter Amie and husband Bill Masciocchi, his son Micah and fiancée Katya Amchentseva and his granddaughter and best friend, Lily: his brother James and wife Sharon, his sister Pat, and his brother Frank and wife Carol and many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. He is preceded in death by his parents Frank and Rose. A memorial service is being planned for Saturday, October 23rd, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church here in Reno. Another memorial service will be held in Wisconsin in April.