BLUM, Donald E. 1929-2013

BLUM, ALLEN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/2/2013 at 18:28:22

Donald E. Blum

Donald E. Blum, 83, of Nashua, passed away on January 28, 2013, at the 11th Street Chautauqua Guest Home, Charles City.

Per Don's request, no service will be held. Friends may greet the family Thursday, Jan. 31, from 4-7 p.m. at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in Nashua. A private family interment will take place at a later date at the Rockford Cemetery. Online condolences for Don's family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com

Donald Blum was born February 20, 1929, to Philip and Helen (Allen) Blum at their farm northeast of Rockford. Upon graduating from Floyd High School in 1946, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving in the Korean War. While serving in Korea in 1951, he was called back to the states for Officers Candidate School in Quantico, Va. He turned down the commission, and was then stationed at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Calif.

In November, 1952, he came home on leave to marry Jeanne Helmers at the Methodist Church in Marble Rock. To this union four sons were born. After getting married, the couple returned to Camp Pendleton where they resided until his discharge in January 1954.

Don and Jeanne returned to Iowa with their six-week old son, David, and farmed near Rockford for a number of years. In 1964, he started working at Hydrotile in Nashua, as a welder and continued working there as a shop foreman until the plant closed in 1991. Once retired, Don enjoyed his hobbies camping, hunting, fishing, gunsmithing, and cooking his favorite specialties. He especially enjoyed hunting turkey, deer and elk. Many times you would find Jeanne and his sons accompanying him on these hunts. Don was also an avid reader and history buff.

Don was very supportive of conservation and environmental preservation issues, having served on the Chickasaw County Conservation Board. He was active in the Boy Scouts and sport activities with his four young sons, and taught them by example how to appreciate and respect the great outdoors. He was very proud of each of his sons. He was also a member of the Nashua VFW and the United Methodist Church.

Don is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Jeanne Blum; three sons: Steven (Laura) Blum, of Nashua, Robert (Maria) Blum, of Logan, N.M., and James (Nancy) Blum, of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; a daughter-in-law, Dawn Tracy Blum, of West Des Moines; a sister, Carol Jensen, of Queen City, Ariz.; a sister-in-law, Viola Kingery, of Charles City; 11 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, David Blum (2011).

Memorials may be direct to Friends of Chickasaw County, c/o Twin Ponds Nature Center.

Charles City Press - 30 JAN 2013