Christian J Blum
February 13, 1934 — June 5, 2017
Christian Joseph Blum, son of Martin Chris and Elenora (Pauley) Blum, was born February 13, 1934. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Panama for grade school and high school. Chris was confirmed at St. Mary’s of Assumption in Panama, where he remained a member his whole life.
Chris enlisted in the Army on October 4, 1954 and was stationed in Germany as an Anti-Aircraft Artillery Crewman. He also served in the Korean War before his Honorable discharge on July 7, 1956. Chris received the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) and the Good Conduct Medal.
Chris married Patricia Freund on August 21, 1956 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. To this union, seven children were born.
He began to work on the family farm in Portsmouth in 1956, as well as driving truck. Chris and Pat moved to Harlan in 2008, but continued to work on the family farm. Chris didn’t retire until October 2016 when he could no longer drive.
Chris died on Monday, June 5, 2017 at Myrtue Medical Center, attaining the age of eighty-three years, three months and twenty-three days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings Vernon(Irene) Blum; Virginia (Louis) Wingert; Mary Blum; Emil Blum; and Audrey Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Blum of Harlan, Iowa; children Dean (Brancinda) Blum of Woodbine, Iowa; Connie (Al) Tielbein of Norwalk, Iowa; Janet (Dan) Hansen of Earling, Iowa; JoAnn (Monte) Hubbard of Wheatland, Wyoming; Karen Blum of Chicago, Illinois; Sue Kratky of Fairway, Kansas; Kenny (Mae) Blum of Woodbine, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; siblings Charles Blum of Panama, Iowa; Sr. Joyce Blum of Panama, Iowa; Alice (Jerry) Zimmerman of Minden, Iowa; Jeanne (LeRoy) Heese of Defiance, Iowa; and Judy Clark of Omaha, Nebraska.
Chris enlisted in the Army on October 4, 1954 and was stationed in Germany as an Anti-Aircraft Artillery Crewman. He also served in the Korean War before his Honorable discharge on July 7, 1956. Chris received the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) and the Good Conduct Medal.
Chris married Patricia Freund on August 21, 1956 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. To this union, seven children were born.
He began to work on the family farm in Portsmouth in 1956, as well as driving truck. Chris and Pat moved to Harlan in 2008, but continued to work on the family farm. Chris didn’t retire until October 2016 when he could no longer drive.
Chris died on Monday, June 5, 2017 at Myrtue Medical Center, attaining the age of eighty-three years, three months and twenty-three days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings Vernon(Irene) Blum; Virginia (Louis) Wingert; Mary Blum; Emil Blum; and Audrey Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Blum of Harlan, Iowa; children Dean (Brancinda) Blum of Woodbine, Iowa; Connie (Al) Tielbein of Norwalk, Iowa; Janet (Dan) Hansen of Earling, Iowa; JoAnn (Monte) Hubbard of Wheatland, Wyoming; Karen Blum of Chicago, Illinois; Sue Kratky of Fairway, Kansas; Kenny (Mae) Blum of Woodbine, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; siblings Charles Blum of Panama, Iowa; Sr. Joyce Blum of Panama, Iowa; Alice (Jerry) Zimmerman of Minden, Iowa; Jeanne (LeRoy) Heese of Defiance, Iowa; and Judy Clark of Omaha, Nebraska.
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