Blomberg, David Dean (1962-2016)

BLOMBERG, SMITH, GOEDERT, SMITH, RATAJCZAK

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 3/29/2016 at 13:50:25

David Dean Blomberg
November 22, 1961 - March 1, 2016

David Blomberg, age 54, of New Baden, Illinois, and formerly of Albert City, Iowa, died on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at his home.

Dave turned two years old the day that President John F. Kennedy was shot. His birthday celebration probably got lost in the sadness and shock hovering over the country, but maybe that moment, somewhere deep inside a little two year old boy, made him decide to devote his life to serving the great United States of America.

David D. Blomberg was born to Betty (100% German) and Rich (100% Swedish) somewhere near Albert City, Iowa, which in itself is funny. When asked where he was born, Dave’s mom and dad didn’t always have the same answer. Because of their big family, the place where he was born sometimes got lost in the shuffle. Luckily, it was in a hospital, not in a barn.

Many of his high school friends will remember his hairdos, first long hair, then a giant afro, then the air force shave – so many for one man. An avid athlete throughout his K-12 years, he wrestled, ran track, and his favorite, played football. A few weeks before she passed away, Dave sent a story to his hero and mother, Betty Blomberg, entitled, “Moments in Time; Creations of a Lifetime.” In it, he told about a football game that he had played in his senior year of high school. Up against Manson, a formidable rival, the Albert City team was expecting a colossal defeat. To everyone’s surprise, and mostly Dave’s, however, the final score came down to the last play in overtime. Because Dave and another teammate piled on top of each other on defense to stop a touchdown from the first yard line, Albert City ended up winning in overtime – Dave’s favorite high school sports memory. But what made it his favorite was what he wrote a few years ago:

“My teammate got knocked unconscious for a short time, and my bell was certainly “rung,” but none of that mattered. I remember looking at the stands while still laying in the pile of high school flesh and seeing the entire town coming out of the stands. When I got up and cleaned the grass out of my face guard, I saw only one person—Mom. She waited for me to get up, and when I did, she put “Andre the Giant” to shame with the hug she gave me - she was actually holding ME up. I lost total awareness of everything else going on around me. To me, Mom led the entire town on the field, and now, everyone else had left.”

The day after he graduated from high school, Dave joined the United States Air Force. Immediately after completing Basic Training at Lackland AFB, Texas, he attended Tech School at Sheppard AB, also in Texas. After becoming an engineering assistant, he worked on drafting and surveying. From Texas, he moved to his first duty station at Hulbert Field, Florida, and married his high school sweetheart, Darlys Smith. After moving into contract management, he was encouraged to become an officer. To move into this new roll, he moved to Arizona to complete a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

Dave graduated Summa Cum Laude, which for some people, would be more than enough reason to brag, but not Dave. This honor was one of many Dave would earn throughout his career, but when anyone asked about his success, he’d tell them he wasn’t that smart. He just kept at things and worked hard. And of course, it’s true that he worked hard. But those who knew him saw that there was more to it; he was a natural leader and had a great mind.

After distinguishing himself once again in Officer Training School, Dave left for his first duty station as an officer, working as an Engineer with lasers and satellites at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio. As if he didn’t have enough to occupy his time, he and Darlys learned they were expecting. Dave’s daughter Kristin Lynn Blomberg, and now Ratajczak, was born on May 27, 1988, and from that instant, she became his greatest joy. In fact, he said he’d take ten more of her. In that moment, he must have channeled his parents.

In his free time, Dave pursued a private pilot’s license, which opened up the possibility his becoming a pilot. Just squeaking in under the age limit, Dave was accepted into Air Force Pilot Training in 1989. To complete this program, he moved to Lubbock, Texas. After graduating at the top of his class once again, he moved in 1990 to Travis AFB in California to fly C-141s. At that time, Desert Storm was already in progress, and within a few weeks, Dave was flying combat support missions over Iraq.

After excelling as a pilot, co-pilot, and executive officer, Dave became a flight commander of the 7th Military Airlift Squadron. In addition to flying more missions than he could count in Desert Storm, he flew presidential-directed sorties to Antarctica. To non-military buffs, he would describe missions like these in one word: “cool”.

In 1994, after cross-training to fly KC-10s, Dave moved across the country to McGuire AFB in New Jersey. There, he was promoted and received orders to report to Maxwell AFB in Alabama. During that time, he was completing a program at the Air Command and Staff College, spending every spare moment watching video tapes of classes consisting of professors writing endless complex math problems on a white board. Excelling in classes like that would seem impossible to many, but Dave managed just fine.

In 1998, after graduating with honors and receiving orders from the Pentagon, he cross-train on C-17s and then moved to McChord AFB in Washington where he took command of the Fighting 4th Airlift Squadron. In 2004, he retired from the Air Force after 24 years of dedicated service.

Throughout his career, he found picking up and going somewhere new no big deal. He moved to Minnesota, then Oklahoma to work as a flight instructor, before finally settling down in New Baden, Illinois, where he worked as a civil servant in the Commanders Action Group at Scott AFB.

Dave and Darlys, also, had two sons, Kyle and Kevin, who, regrettably, passed away shortly after their births and who Dave is now holding in his arms in heaven. He is, also, preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Betty (Goedert) Blomberg, who he is mostly likely teaching how to fish if they aren’t beating him at cards.

Dave will be remembered by Darlys, as she reflects on their time together. Moreover, his memory will live on with Kristin and her husband, Joey, as they treasure the moments they spent together. Additionally, others who will treasure his memory include his brothers and sisters and their spouses: Dick and Kim, Susan and Paul, Teresa and Dan, Mark and Carol, Dan and Linda, Michelle and Jody, Bruce and Kristi, Bryan and Kendra, and Bob and Jennifer, as well as his nieces and nephews, who loved hanging out with him each summer at the cabin and also at Bruce and Kristi’s home in Des Moines at Christmas time. The Blomberg family has continued to grow and loves the times they can all get together. At those times especially, Dave will be missed very much in their hearts. Lastly, Dave will be missed by Annalisa Melton from St. Louis, a very dear friend.

Since the news of Dave’s passing, his friends and comrades from the United States Air Force have shared memories that tell Dave’s story. Dave loved serving his country, spending time with his family and friends in the great outdoors, and riding his Harley on country roads. More than that though, every story seems to share the themes of his character: an amazing leader, mentor, and friend, who truly personified selfless compassion. His thoughtful nature was treasured by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Dave wrote these words to his mom, and now we’d all like to say them to him – Thank you Dave, for the “Moments in Time” you gave us.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Varina, Iowa. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. A luncheon and a time to share memories and celebrate David's life will take place at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Albert City following the interment in Fairfield Township Cemetery in Albert City. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of the arrangements.

Copyright © 2016, Sliefert Funeral Homes

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