Rose Louise (Branstetter) BLUM

BRANSTETTER, BLUM, MCAFEE, JOHNSON, BOCKMAN, PECK, FITZPATRICK, POWELL, SMITH, CLINKINBEARD, STRUBE, LEWIS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/17/2009 at 12:16:16

December 16, 2009
Estherville Daily News, Iowa

SPIRIT LAKE, IA - Rose Louise Branstetter Blum was a vivacious woman who passed from this life from cancer on her 85th birthday at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009. Rose was born Dec. 12, 1924, in Marshalltown, the daughter of Virgil Abernathe Branstetter and Ada Margaret (McAfee) Branstetter. She was the fifth of eight children in the Branstetter family. She moved to Eagle Grove, then later to Sutherland. She graduated from Sutherland High School in 1942. Following graduation she moved to Detroit with her two older sisters and she worked in an airplane factory during World War II. She worked for Briggs Manufacturing where they made wings for Boeing B-17 and B-19 warplanes. Following the war, Rose returned to Milford where her family lived and she worked at Justice Grocery store. Sept. 14, 1947, Rose married Henry C. Blum from Terril. She worked as a farmwife as they farmed near Terril, Lake Park and Graettinger until 1964 when they moved to Holly, Colo., where Henry was employed by the local grain elevator. The family moved to Lamar, Colo., in 1965 and then to Scottsbluff, Neb., in 1969. In 1972 they relocated to Lincoln, Neb., then back to Gering, Neb., in 1976. Rose was employed through the years as an office clerical worker and bookkeeper. In Lincoln she worked for Great Plains National Television Library.

Rose and Henry were the beloved parents of two children, Clinton and Gail. Following Henry's death in 1983, Rose moved to Spirit Lake near her daughter, Gail. In 2006, Rose relocated to Estherville. Rose enjoyed golf, painting, quilting, music and dancing and was a member of the Methodist church. She was a wonderful writer, voracious reader and a great fan of sports, particularly the Iowa Hawkeyes. She was an avid bridge player and treasured the challenge of the game as well of the companionship of her friends. Rose was a devoted wife and a wonderful mother and was dearly loved by her children and grandchildren. She treasured her family, siblings, many nieces and nephews and many friends. Those near to her will miss her intellect, wit and fiery personality.

Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Blum; her parents, Virgil and Ada; her brother, Robert L. Branstetter; her sister, Helen Mae Johnson; and five brothers-in-law. She is survived by her son, Clinton Blum, and wife, Sharon, of Littleton Colo.; and her daughter, Gail Blum Bockman, of Milford. She had five grandchildren: Amy Blum Peck of Denver; Christopher Blum and Jeffery Blum of Littleton, Colo.; Collin Bockman of Iowa City and Patrick Bockman of Milford. Also surviving are two great-grandsons, Ciaran and Liam Peck, of Denver. Also surviving are two sisters, Pearl Powell of Sutherland and Ruth Fitzpatrick of Churdan; three brothers, Merle Branstetter (Betty) of Punta Gorda, Fla., Leonard (Karilyn) Branstetter of Chandler, Ariz., and Charles Branstetter (Betty) of Harlan; six sisters-in-law: Opal Smith of Spencer, Marjorie Clinkinbeard of Grass Valley, Calif., Coleen Strube of Tampa, Fla., Patricia Lewis of Lancaster, Pa., and Kay Branstetter of Milford. Rose also had many nieces and nephews and dear friends and she treasured each and every one of them. Turner Funeral Home in Milford in charge of arrangements.