John J. Blank Sr.,82, of Main Street died Thursday December 2, 2004 at Grace Barker Nursing Home in Warren.

He was the husband of the late Yvonne (Brule) Blank.

Born in Winona, Minn., a son of the late John A. and Mary (Wineski) Blank, he had lived in Winona before moving to Warren 56 years ago.

Mr. Blank had worked as a loom fixer for Berkshire Hathaway for 22 years. He and his wife also owned the former Blanks Family Restaurant, on Metacom Avenue.

He was an assistant scoutmaster of Troops 1 and 49. He was a member of Elks Lodge 1860, Bristol, and the Knights of Columbus. He also ran the chicken barbeque for the Columban Fathers in Bristol for 20 years. Mr. Blank and his wife had a private audience with Pope John Paul II.

He leaves three sons, John J. Blank Jr. of Houston, Roger Blank of Bristol and Norman Blank of Warren; two daughters, Janet E. Blank of Warren and Mary Alice Conklin of Warwick; a brother, Edward Blank of Winona; two sisters, Caroline Lanqowski of Winona and Anne P. Bander of St. Cloud, Minn.; and 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was father of the late Steven P. and Pamela Anne Blank, and brother of the late Eugene and Josephine Blank.

Burial will be in St. Jean Baptiste Cemetery.