Obit: Bichanich, Blake Michael (1958 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bichanich, Underberg, Janssen, Linse, Sinclair, Johnson, Hageness, Geske, Steinbach

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 9/02/2015

Bichanich, Blake Michael (12 November 1958 - 21 August 2015)

Blake Michael Bichanich died unexpectedly on August 21, 2015, in his home in rural Augusta, Wisconsin, at age 56.

He was born November 12, 1958, in Thorp, Wisconsin, to Paul and Phyllis (nee Underberg) Bichanich. He grew up and attended school in Thorp and later moved to Lake Wissota and attended a private high school in Eau Claire. He studied art and architecture at various universities and graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. After designing houses in the Twin Cities area, including his home on Lake Minnetonka, Blake started his own architecture company in 2001, specializing in luxury homes. One of his many projects was a natural history museum, which he designed to resemble a tree.

Blake is survived by his wife, Jennifer (nee Linse); his children from his first marriage to Mary (nee Janssen): Miles (Chelsie), grandson, Aiden; his brothers: Greg (Petra) Sinclair and Brad (Robin) Bichanich; nephews: Matthew (Luchi) Nelson and Paul Jose Sinclair; and niece, Jillian Bichanich.

Blake will be missed by his new family in love and marriage: mother, Lois Linse; sisters, Gena (Brent) Johnson and Suellen (Greg) Hageness; brothers: Stan (Sharon) Geske and Howard F. Linse; nephews: Tyler (Kimberly) Geske and Nathan Hageness; nieces: Tera (Matthew Steinbach), Anna Hageness and Marissa Hageness; great nephews, Kaynen and Kroix Steinbach. He will also be dearly missed by Lucky, Roxie, Bo, and Jelly Bean.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Phyllis Bichanich.

Blake was a supportive father, and his kids will always remember fondue cookouts, road trips, tubing behind the boat, and fishing off the dock at the lake house. They will miss his advice, humor, and love. He was a very creative man and was passionate about a variety of things, including fishing, art, hunting, antiquing, travel music, and trying new foods. He was a dreamer who always had big ideas and plans.

Blake’s newest love and passion was the Bears Grass Church, which he has purchased to use as an architectural studio in 2011. It was here that he met and married the girl next door, Jennifer. Together they worked to bring this historic structure, built in 1893, to life inside and out. They planted apple trees and flowers and opened the doors of the church to welcome friends, family and strangers, too.

A visitation was held Saturday, August 29, 2015, at Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, WI, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com.