Blanche Joanna (Clark) Ostendorf was a longtime resident of Vincennes and passed away peacefully on May 10, 2023, after an extended illness, a few days after her 91st birthday. Blanche was born in Knox County, the only daughter of Karl and Pearl (Horrall) Clark, and was a proud graduate of Fritchton High School and the Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Vincennes. Blanche grew-up in Fritchton with four brothers, Kenneth, Bob, Constine, and David, also graduates of Fritchton High School, all of whom predeceased her.
Blanche began work at Good Samaritan Hospital right out of nursing school and married Francis E. Ostendorf at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in June 1954. Blanche continued her registered nursing practice at GSH and later for Dr. Herman, Sr., at Vincennes Orthopaedic Surgery, while being wife to Francis, and mother, housekeeper, baker, banker, cook, chauffeur, clothier, fixer, troop leader, referee, counselor, and confessor to six children. Blanche was a wonderful and caring wife and mother, an excellent seamstress, a capable painter/carpenter, a superb fryer of chicken, and a superior grandmother. After retiring from nursing, Blanche devoted considerable time to volunteer endeavors at Flaget Elementary School and began a regular exercise routine at the YMCA, which for many years started with a 1.5-mile walk to the Y, exercise (and socializing), and concluded with a 1.5-mile walk home.
Blanche and Francis were members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish, and Francis predeceased her in 2017. Blanche was also predeceased by her son Doug (2017) and daughter Denise (2019). She is survived by her daughter Susan Leonard (Rick) of Vincennes, daughter-in-law Debby Ostendorf of Vincennes, son Matt Ostendorf (Marilyn) of Newburgh, daughter Debbie Goodner (Jack) of Lebanon, TN, and son Greg Ostendorf (Janet) of Zionsville; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
For Blanche, the most important thing in her life was her children, until there were grandchildren, after which everything else moved down the list a little. Blanche will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, but it’s now her time in Elysium.
Visitation with Blanche’s family will be on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 803 Main Street in Vincennes, from 11:00 a.m. until noon, immediately followed by the funeral service with Rev. Tony Ernst officiating. Funeral arrangements have been handled by Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home in Vincennes. The family expresses special gratitude to the staff of BridgePointe Health Campus for their assistance in caring for Blanche during her illness. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Vincennes YMCA.
