John A. Blanchard

Dr. John A. Blanchard, of Lake Oswego, went to be with his Lord, October 24 at the age of 97. He is singing with the angels. John was born in Fairview, Montana to John and Barbara Blanchard, the 12th of 14 children. His father built churches and hospitals in the area, while his Mother and the kids tended gardens, canned, fished and worked hard to provide for all. In 1934 he met his wife Ilene Hanto, who went to a rival high school in Sidney, Montana and started dating her in 1937. After graduating from Montana State University in 1941, he worked as a State Health Officer, traveled with FDR\u0027s National Youth Administration putting up utility poles and then in the State Health Lab as a serologist. He and Mom were married on July 16, 1042 in Sidney, Montana at Country Church. They honeymooned in Yellowstone and John joined the Navy the next month. He attended midshipman\u0027s school at Columbia University in New York, and graduated as an ensign. He was sent to Amphibious Warfare School in Norfolk Virginia and was one of 12 officers sent to the South Pacific. John was always very proud of his service to our country during World War II, but spoke very little of his experiences. We know he participated in landings of the 2nd and 3rd Marine Divisions and the 37th and 41st Infantry. His most harrowing project was the evacuation of a Marine battalion behind enemy lines and under enemy fire using amphibious vehicles. In late 1945, John returned from the South Pacific and ran recruiting stations in Santa Fe and El Paso, honorably discharged as a Lieutenant in the Navy. Reunited with Ilene, John entered medical school at Oregon Health and Sciences University, graduating in 1950. Ilene supported the family while John went to medical school working as a nurse anesthetist in Portland. John did both his internship and residency at Providence Medical Center in Portland. In 1954, he joined the medical practice of Oren Richards and Bill Hollenbeck as a doctor of internal medicine. The practice would later add his colleagues Tom Dunham and Don Edwards. They would practice their entire careers in the old Providence Medical Building. For over 40 years, Dr. Blanchard served his patients with dedication and expertise. He was a perfectionist by nature, diagnosing and healing others was his skill. Patients say he was kind and gentle and thorough. He ran the residency program at Providence Portland for many years, passing on his giftedness to others. He served as President of the Medical Staff at Providence Medical Center. After retiring from his medical practice, he worked with patients at Volunteers of America and kept his curiosity of advances in medicine current by attending grand rounds. John and Ilene, married for over 67 years, traveled extensively through Europe, Russia, Asia, the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, South America and the Holy Lands Region. John was involved in music his entire life, gifted with perfect pitch and a rich tenor voice. He created rich memories singing around the piano and organ in our home on Mt. Tabor. His faith was an important part of his life, as well, serving as elder at Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church for decades, and leading his family to church every Sunday as well as to weekday programs. At his death, he was a member of Lake Grove Presbyterian church and participated weekly in Vespers at The Stafford. John is survived by daughters Barbara Evans, and son-in-law, Kendall Evans of Oregon City, OR, Suzanne Krahmer and son-in-law, Donald L. Krahmer, Jr. of Tigard, OR and Cynthia Blanchard of Lake Oswego, OR, sister in law Jan Macken of West Linn, OR and brother in law Don Hanto and his wife Anne of Tampa Florida, many nieces and nephews, 9 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. Ilene and 13 brothers and sisters preceded John in death. A memorial service will be held at 11 am, Saturday November 12, 2016 at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church. A private internment with military honors will take place on Veteran\u0027s Day, November 11 at the Willamette National Cemetery. Remembrances may be made to Providence Medical Foundation."",