OGDEN – Alvin "Kelly" Bluhm, 91, of Ogden passed from this life to his heavenly home on Tuesday (Nov. 10, 2015) at the palliative care unit at the Veterans Affairs Illiana Health Care System in Danville.
Funeral arrangements are being made through Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, at the funeral home. Funeral worship will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Homer New Life Church of Faith, 505 W. Crittenden St., Homer. Burial will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Royal, with military honors.
Kelly was born Oct. 24, 1924, a son of Frederick and Kathryn Osterbur Bluhm, in rural St. Joseph. He grew up on a farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse. He married Emma Osterbur on Nov. 25, 1945, near Royal - celebrating 70 years together. She survives.
Their marriage was blessed with six children, Darrell Bluhm, David (Ginny) Bluhm of Cicero, Ind., Davida Bluhm of Champaign, Deanna Bluhm of Chicago, Dean Bluhm of Cottage Grove, Wis., and Debra (Rodney) Suits of Fisher.
Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, Shawna (Steve) Skimehorn of Danville, Sonya (Andy) Green of Kokomo, Ind., Chris (Aline) Bluhm of Riverview, Fla., Tabitha Olson of Chicago, Chad Bluhm of Champaign, Heidi Routh of Mahomet, Holly (Joe) Zimmerman of Mahomet, Toby Routh of Mahomet, Matthew (Anna) Bluhm of Winnetka, Allison Bluhm of Cambridge, Wis., Rosalee Bluhm of Cambridge, Wis., Jeremy (Brett) Leevey of Urbana, Justin (Mindy) Leevey of Mahomet, Michele (Curt) Evans of LeRoy and Misty (Bill) Mannin of Mahomet; 27 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Irene Buhr of Thomasboro and Helen Comnick of Menahga, Minn.; a brother, Herbert Bluhm of Winston-Salem, N.C.; two sisters-in-law, Ester Lindsey of Champaign and Thea Franzen of Gifford; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Darrell Bluhm; a brother, Ernest Bluhm; and two sisters, Emma Raup and Anna Franzen.
Kelly and Emma farmed most of their married life, retiring at the age of 87. He obtained his pilot's license for small engine aircrafts and joined the F&W Flyers Club - still flying at age 89. Kelly was an active member of the Homer New Life Church of Faith where he helped with their building project and Community Garden.
Kelly was a charter member of the Royal American Legion, a member of Ex-POWs, DAV and VFW. He was a rifleman of the 79th Division in the U.S. Army Infantry fighting in World War II in France and Germany where he was wounded, reported missing in action and taken prisoner for 85 days, receiving the Purple Heart.
In October 2011, Kelly was privileged to participate in a one-day Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
Memorials may be made to the VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville, Royal American Legion or donor's choice.
No comments:
Post a Comment