George Benjamin Blaney was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 17, 1903. He was born out of wedlock to Magdalene Kujawa and Walter J. Blaney. George lived with Maggie’s sister Katie and her husband Ben Hilk in Chicago who wanted to adopt young George. George was also fortunate to study at the Art Institute of Chicago. Stories say that one of his classmates was Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker. But Magdalene married, and her son moved back to Green Bay and was raised as George Roznowski never knowing the identity of his real father.

As a young man he worked at Cohodas Fruits as the “banana man.” He later ran a streetcar on Route #7, which ran from Green Bay to DePere, and Kaukaua which was also known as the Hickory Grove Sanitarium run. Eventually the tracks were ripped up ending the days of streetcar travel and he became a bus driver.

At age 23 while preparing to marry Ceil Lang he made quite a discovery. He purchased wedding rings using his given name George Roznowski, but in filing his wedding vows with the city, he discovered his real father’s name. Using his father’s given name, George Blaney married Cecilia Mary Catherine Lang on April 26, 1927 at St Mary’s of the Angels in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Together they honeymooned in Milwaukee and Chicago. They had three children together: Patricia Ruth Wiesner, George Blaney Jr, and Louise Frances Turek.
Just three months before Louise was born in November 1934 George began working for the Green Bay Police Department and stayed in that profession for 24 years. George had police badge #52 and walked the beat of Washington and the Main Street alley.
Later he patrolled the Broadway and Walnut beat, was traffic man at Dousman and Broadway, but was eventually assigned to a squad car. His partner was Pat Madden where together they saw some action. In a ripped Green Bay Press Gazette headline dated “September 10, 1941” it states that George Blaney (patrolman) was involved in “Gunman on Rampage, Shot, Killed by Police.” After 24 years in the force, his retirement party was held at the Pazaza Club on Nicolet Road in the town of Preble.
George Blaney lost his only son, George Junior, in an automobile/truck accident in 1969. It was said that he never got over that loss. A smoker all his life, he developed emphysema, a cancer of the lungs, and became quite ill. Weak and bedridden in his final days, his wife Ceil would help this proud man by playing “Choo Choo.” She would throw his arms over her shoulders, put all his weight on her, and pull him to the bathroom. George “Pa Pa” Blaney died on February 25, 1971 in Green Bay. He is buried in the Allouez Cemetery.

George Benjamin Blaney was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 17, 1903. He was born out of wedlock to Magdalene Kujawa and Walter J. Blaney. George lived with Maggie’s sister Katie and her husband Ben Hilk in Chicago who wanted to adopt young George. George was also fortunate to study at the Art Institute of Chicago. Stories say that one of his classmates was Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker. But Magdalene married, and her son moved back to Green Bay and was raised as George Roznowski never knowing the identity of his real father.

As a young man he worked at Cohodas Fruits as the “banana man.” He later ran a streetcar on Route #7, which ran from Green Bay to DePere, and Kaukaua which was also known as the Hickory Grove Sanitarium run. Eventually the tracks were ripped up ending the days of streetcar travel and he became a bus driver.

At age 23 while preparing to marry Ceil Lang he made quite a discovery. He purchased wedding rings using his given name George Roznowski, but in filing his wedding vows with the city, he discovered his real father’s name. Using his father’s given name, George Blaney married Cecilia Mary Catherine Lang on April 26, 1927 at St Mary’s of the Angels in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Together they honeymooned in Milwaukee and Chicago. They had three children together: Patricia Ruth Wiesner, George Blaney Jr, and Louise Frances Turek.
Just three months before Louise was born in November 1934 George began working for the Green Bay Police Department and stayed in that profession for 24 years. George had police badge #52 and walked the beat of Washington and the Main Street alley.
Later he patrolled the Broadway and Walnut beat, was traffic man at Dousman and Broadway, but was eventually assigned to a squad car. His partner was Pat Madden where together they saw some action. In a ripped Green Bay Press Gazette headline dated “September 10, 1941” it states that George Blaney (patrolman) was involved in “Gunman on Rampage, Shot, Killed by Police.” After 24 years in the force, his retirement party was held at the Pazaza Club on Nicolet Road in the town of Preble.
George Blaney lost his only son, George Junior, in an automobile/truck accident in 1969. It was said that he never got over that loss. A smoker all his life, he developed emphysema, a cancer of the lungs, and became quite ill. Weak and bedridden in his final days, his wife Ceil would help this proud man by playing “Choo Choo.” She would throw his arms over her shoulders, put all his weight on her, and pull him to the bathroom. George “Pa Pa” Blaney died on February 25, 1971 in Green Bay. He is buried in the Allouez Cemetery.