Jack Bloomquist, 15 Mar 1938 - 22 Jan 2014

BLOOMQUIST, MCGUIRE, KEASLING, HAWKINS, HAMMER, WARD, ROTH, BECK

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 2/17/2014 at 19:36:52

Jack Bloomquist, 75

Funeral service for Jack Bloomquist, 75, Ladora, was held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at Smith Funeral Home, Victor. He died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, with his family by his side at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, following a lengthy illness.

The Rev. Jim Davis officiated at the service.

Burial was in the Ohio Cemetery south of Ladora.

Memorials may be sent in care of Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 485, Victor, Iowa 52347.

Jack Bloomquist was born March 15, 1938, the son of Jesse and Mildred (McGuire) Bloomqist, in Ottuma. He graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1957 and continued his education at the DeVry Technical Institution.

He married Betty Keasling Nov. 29, 1958, in Grand Prairie, Texas. The couple was blessed with three daughters. He was employed by Imperial Station, Ladora, and Clegg Betz’s farms before retiring from Amana Refrigeration after 42 years.

He was one of the founders of the Ladora First Responder service and a 33 year volunteer of the Ladora Fire Department. He spent many years as a weather spotter and civil defense member. He was a dedicated member of the Masonic Lodge. He served with the Scottish Rite, Knights Templar and the Iowa City York Rite.

He enjoyed the outdoors, including hunting, fishing and camping. He enjoyed traveling, playing bingo, solving crossword puzzles, bowling and playing rolle blle, but his most important hobby was being with his family and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events.

Bloomquist is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty; his daughters, Becky (Bruce) Hawkins, Ladora; Cindy (Bob) Hammer, Ladora, and Rhonda (Brian) Ward, Ladora; grandchildren, Josh (Stacy) Hawkins, Adam (Susan) Hawkins, Barb Roth, Kent (Brittany) Roth, Jesse Ward and Reed Ward; step-grandchildren, Angela Hammer, Alyssa Hammer and Daniel Hammer; great-grandchildren, Jordyn Beck, Lola Hawkins, Jocelyn Beck, Brenna Hawkins and Bennett Hawkins, and his cat, Socks.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Herb Bloomquist.

The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 30 Jan 2014
The Gazette, 25 Jan 2014