Ronald John Blum

Ronald Blum, age 79 of George, IA, died Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at the Good Samaritan Center in George, IA. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday July 10, 2010 at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George with Rev. Paul Fischer and Rev. Henry Gower officiating. Interment will be at a later date at the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery in George, IA. Visitation will be Friday, July 9th from 2:00 " 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m. at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George. Ronald John Blum was born on March 7, 1931, the son of Chris and Ragna (Olsen) Blum in Hull, Iowa. Ron grew up on a farm northwest of George, Iowa. He attended country school and later attended and graduated from George High School in 1949. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served for four years. On June 7, 1952, he was united in marriage to Marvel Kannegieter in the chapel at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, IL. The couple lived in Rantoul, IL until Ron was discharged from the Air Force, then they moved to Aurora, IL where Ron work for IBM as a Customer Engineer for thirty years. In 1958, Ron and his wife moved to DeKalb, IL until 1985 when Ron retired from IBM and they moved to Mesa, AZ where they lived for twenty years. Ron and Marvel then moved to George, IA where they have lived the past three years. Ron was a member of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church and a fifty year member of the Elks Club. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed working with computers and was an excellent baker and cook. Ron is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Marvel Blum of George, IA; and son, Robert (wife, Beth) Blum of Kingston, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Jeff Blum; half-sister, Dolores Rhinesmith and two half-brothers, Bob and John Tysver.