Obit: Lynch, Blanche E. (1893 - 1935)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Lynch, Gates, Sethen, Restau

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 26 Sept. 1935

Lynch, Blanche E. (30 Jan. 1893 - 17 Sept. 1935)

Funeral rites for Mrs. John L. Lynch, who passed away at her home in Milwaukee, Sept. 17, 1935, were held at Lowe’s Funeral Home, Saturday, afternoon, Sept. 21, Rev. Longenecker, officiating.

Blanche E. Gates was born in Neillsville Jan. 30, 1893. She grew to womanhood here and graduated from Neillsville High School in the class of 1911. After teaching rural schools for a few years, she entered Stevens Point Normal, graduating in 1917. Later she returned to Stevens Point Normal and took a post graduate course in library work. She majored in mathematics, and there after she taught successfully in high schools of Milltown, Bayfield and Neillsville, Wis. Her work is a teacher was outstanding in its success. Not only did she attain distraction in mathematics, but the breadth of her training and her naturally brilliant mind would have qualified her fully for other lines of teaching. Her mother died when she has a small girl, and it is greatly to her credit that largely through hre own energy and industry she made her way as a student and later as a teacher. To one who knew her from childhood and watched her struggle for success and knew something of what she attained, her early death seems an irreparable loss.

Nov. 15, 1832, she was married to John L. Lynch of Milwaukee, and they made their home in that city until her death. Too soon ill health came to mar their home, and for months she waged a hopeless battle with death. Through all those weary weeks her husband watched over her with tender care, until the end came.

The abundance of beautiful flowers clustered about the casket as she lay at rest, told something of the love of friends, and here and there scattered about the world are many of her pupils who are better fitted for their work in life because she lived.

She is survived by her husband, her father, Edwin H. Gates of Neillsville, three half brothers, Dan Gates, Hmilton, Montana; Edwin Gates in Massachusetts; and James L. Gates of Panama Canal Zone; also two half-sisters, Mrs. Neillie Sethen, Eastend Sask, Canada; and Mrs. Genevieve Restau, Ravenschag, Sask., Canada.

Stevens Point , Wisconsin Central State Teachers' College

In 1927 Stevens Point Normal School became Central State Teachers College and began offering four-year teaching degrees. When post-World War II enrollment became less centered on teacher training and more focused on liberal arts education, the Wisconsin State Legislature intervened, elevating the school to a Wisconsin State College with the authority to grant bachelor's degrees in liberal arts.