Edward M. Blum
November 5, 1937 — August 25, 2019
Edward Martin Blum was born November 5, 1937 to Aloysius and Hilda (Hoffmann) Blum at Panama, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Church in Panama. He attended grade school and high school at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Panama, graduating in 1955.
After graduation Ed worked various jobs including Paramount Paper Products in Omaha before entering the Army Reserves in 1959 until 1965.
Ed started farming in 1960 and was united in marriage on April 30th of that year to Jolene Wilwerding at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Woodbine, Iowa. They became parents to 5 sons Doug, Dennis, Steve, Tom, and Jim, and three daughters, Jackie, Shari, and Connie. They moved to Omaha in 1964 where Ed was employed by Duchesne College and Academy, coming back to farm in 1969 at Panama. In 1997 they built their home and moved into town living there until 2014 when they moved to Harlan, Iowa.
While in Panama he served on the Parish Council, head of the Parish Pinic, and served as President of the Community Club. Ed loved farming, gardening (especially growing watermelons and giving them away), putting puzzles together, ice cream, and morning coffee with the guys. Best of all, was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ed died on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, attaining the age of eighty-one years, nine months, and twenty days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Gerald and Fred; sister Helen; brother-in-law Frank Wageman and sister-in-law Colletta Blum.
Ed is survived by his wife of 59 years Jolene Blum of Harlan, Iowa; children Douglas Blum of Gretna, Nebraska; Dennis (Vicky) Blum of Peosta, Iowa; Steven (Glenda) Blum of Omaha, Nebraska; Thomas (Christina) Blum of Clear Lake, Iowa; James Blum of Bellevue, Nebraska; Jacqueline (Kelly) Hansen of Omaha, Nebraska; Shari (Jarel) Jensen of Omaha, Nebraska; and Connie (Chris) Dresen of Polk City, Iowa; twelve grandchildren; four great grandchildren; his brothers Richard Blum of Manilla, Iowa; Paul Blum of Omaha, Nebraska; sister Esther Wageman of Omaha, Nebraska; sister-in-law Marlene Blum of Manilla, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
After graduation Ed worked various jobs including Paramount Paper Products in Omaha before entering the Army Reserves in 1959 until 1965.
Ed started farming in 1960 and was united in marriage on April 30th of that year to Jolene Wilwerding at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Woodbine, Iowa. They became parents to 5 sons Doug, Dennis, Steve, Tom, and Jim, and three daughters, Jackie, Shari, and Connie. They moved to Omaha in 1964 where Ed was employed by Duchesne College and Academy, coming back to farm in 1969 at Panama. In 1997 they built their home and moved into town living there until 2014 when they moved to Harlan, Iowa.
While in Panama he served on the Parish Council, head of the Parish Pinic, and served as President of the Community Club. Ed loved farming, gardening (especially growing watermelons and giving them away), putting puzzles together, ice cream, and morning coffee with the guys. Best of all, was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ed died on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, attaining the age of eighty-one years, nine months, and twenty days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Gerald and Fred; sister Helen; brother-in-law Frank Wageman and sister-in-law Colletta Blum.
Ed is survived by his wife of 59 years Jolene Blum of Harlan, Iowa; children Douglas Blum of Gretna, Nebraska; Dennis (Vicky) Blum of Peosta, Iowa; Steven (Glenda) Blum of Omaha, Nebraska; Thomas (Christina) Blum of Clear Lake, Iowa; James Blum of Bellevue, Nebraska; Jacqueline (Kelly) Hansen of Omaha, Nebraska; Shari (Jarel) Jensen of Omaha, Nebraska; and Connie (Chris) Dresen of Polk City, Iowa; twelve grandchildren; four great grandchildren; his brothers Richard Blum of Manilla, Iowa; Paul Blum of Omaha, Nebraska; sister Esther Wageman of Omaha, Nebraska; sister-in-law Marlene Blum of Manilla, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
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