Alex Blankenbeker

Alex Blankenbeker, 53, of Martinsville, IL, died surrounded by family at 6:28 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, IN following a motorcycle accident. He was born on December 19, 1964 in Robinson, IL, the son of Ralph Blankenbeker & Carolyn (Hill) Blankenbeker-Hain. For 25 years, he was married to Annie (Ingrum) and this marriage brought two wonderful children into this world: his daughter, Cheyenne & husband Todd Fancil (Martinsville, IL); and his son, Eli Blankenbeker (Martinsville, IL). He is also survived by his granddaughter, Ella Fancil (Martinsville, IL); his mother, Carolyn Hain (Martinsville, IL); by his brother & sister-in-law, Chris & Dawn Blankenbeker (Martinsville, IL); by his sister & brother-in-law, Teresa & Rob Reynolds (Martinsville, IL); as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Kenneth & Cora Blankenbeker and Wayne & Rosella Hill; by his uncle, Wayne Phipps; and by his father, Ralph Blankenbeker, who passed on December 25, 2016. Alex grew up in the Martinsville area and was a 1983 graduate of Martinsville High School. In 1990, he began his extensive career as an ironworker. He graduated from the apprenticeship program in 1992, but not before receiving the Apprenticeship Award for his class. He was active with Local #22 until his dying day. Away from work, he could be found riding anything with a motor, and was something of a speed-demon. (His family would tell you that the man was like a cat with 9 lives, having lived about 15 of them.) Though he had a wild side, he had a heart for others and would do anything for you. His many friends will long remember his very distinctive laugh and the good times spent with this one-of-a-kind man. He was a longtime member of the Mount Olive Baptist Church and recently started attending Pleasant Grove Church. A time of visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 28th at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Home in West Union, IL. Funeral services will immediately follow and will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home with Pastor Billie Ray Ulrey officiating. Burial will follow in the Medsker Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the “Eli Blankenbeker College Fund”, with memorial envelopes available at the funeral home.