Bloom, Clarence A. (1918-2017)
BLOOM, CARLSON, PETERSON, SUNDBLAD, JOHNSON, STROMME, HUEBNER, LANE, WEST, HOLCOMB, HAACK, CHARLTON, KRAGT, WALKER, ROGERS, EMMERT, OCHS, HARDIE, WINNER
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 6/21/2017 at 18:57:17
Clarence A. Bloom
October 27, 1918 - April 30, 2017Clarence Bloom, age 98, of Albert City, Iowa, died on Sunday, April 30, 2017, at the Pleasant View Home in Albert City.
Clarence Arvid Bloom was born to David and Hilda (Carlson) Bloom on October 27, 1918, in Bancroft, Nebraska. After he turned two, his family moved to a farm three miles southeast of Concord, Nebraska. There, he attended a country school near his home for the first eight years of his schooling. On the farm, he, always, had chores to do, but he, also, made time for playing with his pony, Buck, swimming in the small stream running through the farm, fishing, and hunting as well as running a trap-line with his brothers for muskrats.
Very much a God-fearing man, Clarence accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in 1935. Later, he was baptized and confirmed at the Concord Evangelical Free Church.
While attending high school in Concord, Nebraska, Clarence played basketball and baseball and participated in class plays and on the student council as well. He graduated in 1936. In 1938, he moved with his parents to a farm two and a half miles north of Albert City, Iowa. He went to work at Superior Manufacturing for two years while also continuing to work on his father’s farm.
Soon thereafter, Clarence met a young, attractive school teacher named Ethel Carlson at the Evangelical Free Church of Albert City, Iowa, where they were members, and love soon “bloomed.” A March wedding was planned. However, Clarence was drafted into the army in 1941 for a one year tour of duty, so a wedding date was set for March of 1942. The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th changed that plan. After two more leaves were cancelled, Ethel packed up her wedding dress and took the train to southern California where he was stationed. They married there on June 11, 1942.
Assigned to Officer Candidate School in Ft. Benning, Georgia, Clarence, later, served as a Company Commander in the US Army Infantry. At various times they lived in California, Oregon, and Missouri before the Army, finally, sent him overseas to the European Theatre of Operations. Landing first in North Africa (Oran), he moved on to Sicily, Italy, and eventually to Germany. During that time, their first child, Patricia, was born in 1943 in San Luis Obispo, California. When Clarence received his orders for overseas duty, his wife, Ethel returned to Albert City with Patty and lived with her parents. Clarence remained in active military service until November 28, 1945, and in the army reserves until his honorable discharge on March 20, 1950, with the rank of First Lieutenant.
After returning from the war, Clarence started farming in the spring of 1946 and lived on the family farm until 1999. Clarence and Ethel’s family grew with the addition of two sons and another daughter.
Active in the local Evangelical Free Church (Albert City), Clarence served on the Board of Elders for many years, acting as their chairman for two terms in addition to teaching Sunday school. A leader in the community, he served as a local 4-H leader for seven years and worked tirelessly to see the Pleasant View Nursing Home become a reality. There, he was well cared for during the last few weeks of his life.
Throughout his life, Clarence loved to travel. Indeed, he made vacations an essential part of every summer for the family. Sometimes, they drove to a lake cabin in northwest Iowa or northern Minnesota, and at other times, to more distant destinations. Eventually, they started spending their winters in Bibleville, Texas, where they had a second home for many years.
In his final years, Clarence found a new hobby working with stained glass. He made several lamps, hanging stained glass panels, and nightlights. Moreover, he kept his farm well-manicured, making it look like a golf course. He, also, loved to plant trees.
After the death of his dear wife, Ethel, in 1997, Clarence found love once again when a mutual friend introduced him to Ardys Peterson from Fairmont, Minnesota, after inviting them both to South Padre Island for the day. Thus, the Bloom family grew once again when Clarence and Ardys married on September 18, 1999. Clarence and “Ardie” started their life together in a home on Budd Lake in Fairmont, Minnesota.
Clarence was proceeded in death by his parents, David and Hilda Bloom; his first wife, Ethel; two brothers, Harold and Herbert Bloom. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Ardys; his sisters, Florence Carlson, of Pine City, Minnesota, and Vivian Sundblad, of Albert City, Iowa; his children: Patricia Johnson, of Rockford, Illinois, Arland (Barbara) Bloom, of Albert City, Iowa, Myron (Karyn) Bloom, of Marathon, Iowa, Nancy (Don) Johnson, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin; his stepchildren: Douglas (Judy) Peterson and Richard (Linda) Peterson, all of East Chain, Minnesota, and Rebecca (Brent) Stromme, of Annandale, Minnesota; his grandchildren: Todd (Cindy) Huebner, Cyndy (John) Lane, Brenda (Greg) West, Vicki (Rob) Holcomb, Erica (Ryan) Haack, Aaron (Rebecca) Bloom, Abigail (RJ) Charlton, Jennifer (Gary) Kragt, Melissa (Jim) Walker, Matthew (Catherine) Bloom, Stephen (Melanie) Bloom, Christopher (Megan Stokes) Johnson, and Katy (Ryan) Rogers; his step grandchildren: Sarah (Tyler) Emmert, Jennifer (Jon) Ochs, Joshua (Becki) Peterson, Melissa (Kyle) Hardie, Felicia (Matt) Winner, Cameron (Brooke) Peterson, Braden (Natalie) Stromme, and Robert Stromme; as well as thirty-four great grandchildren, fifteeen step great grandchildren, and seven great great grandchildren. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Clarence loved to spend time with his grandchildren and ardently supported all their activities.
Four days before he died, after not having spoken for several days, Clarence, clearly, uttered this verse: “a peace that passeth understanding.” His strong Christian faith, quiet nature, and wise leadership have left an enduring legacy for all who knew and loved him.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 5, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Albert City. Burial will follow in the Fairfield Township Cemetery in Albert City. Visitation will take place Thursday, May 4, 2017, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is overseeing the arrangements.
Sliefert Funeral Homes, Albert City, Iowa, 2017.
Buena Vista Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
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