Wesley John Bloom
LAUREL — Wesley John Bloom, 93, Laurel, died March 27, 2022, at the Norfolk Veterans Home, Norfolk.
Funeral services were April 2, 2022 at the Evangelical Free Church in Concord, with the Rev. Todd Thelen officiating.
Burial was at the Concord Cemetery, rural Concord, with military rites by the Laurel VFW Post 4504 and Laurel American Legion Post 54.
Pallbearers were Jordan Bloom, Evan Bloom, Jason Grosvenor, Adam Collins, Jared Hartman, Cody Hartman, Brady Hartman, Mitch Welter and Nate Eichmeyer.
Honorary pallbearers were Hayley Bloom, Ashlyn Welter, Whitney Eichmeyer, Angela Collins, Traci Bloom, Meejoo Bloom, Sarah Hartman and Alice Hartman.
Visitation and a prayer service were Friday, all at the church. Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel.
Wesley was born July 21, 1928, on a farm southeast of Laurel to Adolph John and Esther Olive (Forsberg) Bloom. Wes’ Grandpa Bloom and Grandpa Forsberg built one of the first houses his family lived in during his early childhood. He went to country school at District #39 through the eighth grade. Wesley walked one and one quarter miles to school with his neighbors and helped his dad farm with horses in his childhood years. Wes graduated from Concord High School in 1946. As a young single man, Wes and some of his friends enjoyed going to the Wausa Covenant Youth Group, where he met the love of his life, Donna. Wes was a member of the U.S. Army from 1951-1953 during the Korean War, serving in the Occupational Forces in Ulm, Germany. He had eight weeks of basic training in Aterbury, Ind., before going overseas. He learned to snow ski on weekend leaves in Italy, Austria, Holland and Switzerland. After being honorably discharged in 1953, he served his country in the active Army reserves until 1957.
He married Donna Lea Haugarth April 11, 1953, in the Wausa Covenant Church, and also began farming in 1953. Wes and Donna lived and farmed northwest of Laurel until Wes moved to the Norfolk Veterans Home in 2020. He enjoyed raising crops, feeding cattle, raising cow/calf pairs and going to cattle and machinery sales. He loved the Lord, was a prayer warrior and he considered himself so blessed that God allowed him to spend his life as a farmer.
He was a member of the Concord Evangelical Free Church and served in various capacities within the church. He also was a Hospice volunteer after his wife, Donna, died. Wes had a contagious smile that warmed the hearts of those who knew him.
Wesley is survived by his three children and spouses, David (Marilyn) Bloom, Laurel; Joy (Dick) Grosvenor, Ponca; and Sandra (Clayton) Hartman, Dixon; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a brother, Floyd (Beverly) Bloom, Laurel; a sister, Dorothy (Brent) Arant, Gladstone, Mo.; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Esther Bloom; wife, Donna, June 7, 2000; sister and brother-in-law, Leona and Wayne Dykeman; and two brothers, Dwaine Bloom and Darrel Bloom.