Introduction

The following Blahnik history and related information was provided courtesy of Joel Blahnik of Fish Creek, Wisconsin.  Joel Blahnik is a nationally recognized music educator, conductor and composer whose published works have been performed around the world by school and professional organizations.  His manuscripts have been featured at national composer symposiums, recorded by state and national radio and have appeared on foreign radio and television.  As a musicologist and researcher his specialty is Czech music, of which he is considered a scholar.  He is the co-founder of the Czech Music Alliance.  His recreation is the water where he has served as a Coast Guard skipper on Lake Michigan and as a lighthouse caretaker and historian.  Joel is the son of Arthur Blahnik.

During the summer of 1973, Joel and his father, Arthur, journeyed to Czechoslovakia where they did music research and where Arthur obtained the full history of the Blahniks. This history was compiled by a superb scholar, Ladislav Blahnik, now deceased, who was a Governor of the north-eastern section of Bohemia prior to World War II, and then became a political prisoner for 10 years under the succeeding Communist regime.  It was his zeal for compiling and editing the family history which made him survive the ordeals of that time. The family history represents a tremendous amount of research and focuses on the point that all who are named Blahnik came from the same root.

Those interested in Blahnik geneology are encouraged to visit an excellent website edited by Lori Dollevoet, daughter of Bette Jane Blahnik.  Lori's website is available at http://blahnik.genealogyvillage.com

Lee Blahnik's Website
September 14, 2019