Donald Blum

donald blum
Donald E. Blum age 83, of Nashua, IA, 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, January 31, 2013, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 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. Donald Blum was born February 20, 1929, to Philip and Helen (Allen) Blum at their farm northeast of Rockford, Iowa. 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, CA. In November, 1952, he came home on leave to marry Jeanne Helmers at the Methodist Church in Marble Rock, IA. 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, IA for a number of years. In 1964 he started working at Hydrotile in Nashua, IA, as a welder and continued working there as a shop foreman until the plant closed in 1991. Once retiring 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 their 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, IA, Robert (Maria) Blum of Logan, NM, James (Nancy) Blum of Sturgeon Bay, WI; daughter-in-law, Dawn Tracy Blum of West Des Moines, IA; sister, Carol Jensen of Queen City, AZ; sister-in-law, Viola Kingery of Charles City, IA; eleven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and son, David Blum (2011). Memorials may be direct to Friends of Chickasaw County, c/o Twin Ponds Nature Center

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  1. I have so many memories of Don. From working with him at Hydrotile to a deer hunting trip in Wyo. We spent many hours discussing many different topics in either his or my office at work. He talked many times about Jeannie and ‘the boys’ The story I can never forget was the time I went out in the casting yard to check on something and Don was out there wandering around when I asked him what was going on he told me that he had just taken his old dog to have Doc put put him to sleep and he was crying and I talked to him for awhile and that’s when I found out that under his rough tough exterior he had a heart of gold. After I left Hydrotile we didn’t get to visit much, he came over to my machine shop in New Hampton a couple of times and we visited a little. I cherish these memories and will always remember Don as one of my best friends. Joe Whalen

  2. We have so many fond memories of Don…from Dick working with him many years at Hydrotile to asking him questions about the out of doors. He always knew all the answers & was like a walking encyclopedia regarding nature. He identified a couple ‘turkey vultures’ we described & went on to bring us magazines & pictures about them. He was so proud of his family & rightly so. May you hold dear in your hearts all the wonderful memories of the past. Our sincerest sympathy & prayers to the family. Dick & Sue Baldwin

  3. Amy Caster (Ray/Hilda Steward’s Daughter lit a candle in memory of Donald Earl Blum

  4. Dad’s are hard to lose they are so special,thoughts and prayers are with you and family

  5. So sorry to hear of Don’s passing. I’ll never forget the bicycle ride over the bridge to his house for scouts. What a nice man. Prayers for his family. God Bless.


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