RAPID CITY- John Blankartz, age 44, of Rapid City, passed away January, 5 2014 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. John Thomas Blankartz was born on November 1, 1969 in Sioux Falls, SD to Jim and Ellen (Devitt) Blankartz. The family presided in Salem until moving to the Fort Pierre, Pierre area in 1971. John attended elementary school in Fort Pierre/Pierre until the family moved to Mobridge in 1979. The family lived in Mobridge until 1986 when they moved to Mesquite, Texas. John graduated from West Mesquite High School in 1988 and moved to the Sioux Falls, SD area shortly thereafter. In 1995 John married Kassi Pahl and had two daughters, Audree and Shelbi. They resided in Mississippi and Nevada while John worked for Mikon Industries. In 2002 the couple moved to Rapid City and divorced. John remained in Rapid City and worked for KT connections for many years as a Network Engineer. Most recently John became an Independent Network Engineer. He was a devoted father, spending most of his free time raising his two daughters. Over the years John has enjoyed bowling, listening to music, dancing, watching movies and debating world topics. He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Grateful for sharing his life are his daughters, Audree and Shelbi Blankartz, both of Rapid City; 2 sisters, Julie (Rodd) Ahrenstorff, Rapid City and Calleen (Mark) Roemen, Larchwood, Ia. and a brother, Michael (Dawn) Blankartz, Leavenworth, Kan, nieces and nephews Caleb, Maddy, and Ryan Ahrenstorff, Garrett, Samuel, and Bruce Blankartz, Molly, Joey, Ellen, Max and Erin Roemen, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents Jim and Ellen (Devitt) Blankartz. Visitation will be on Thursday, Jan. 9, from 6 - 7 p.m. at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. A Christian wake service will follow at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Christian funeral mass will be offered at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. Brian Lane presiding. Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery in Sioux Falls. A memorial has been established for John's daughters' education at the John Blankartz Memorial Fund, % Highmark Federal Credit Union, 725 5th St., Rapid City, SD 57701.