Donald Lee Blom was born February 3, 1934, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to William and Clara (De Bruin) Blom, the oldest of four sons. He started school at old Lincoln in Pella while his family lived on a farm at the NW corner of Elm and Main Street. After his family moved to a farm five miles northeast of Pella, Don and his brothers, Herb, Keith and Jerry, attended the one-room county schoolhouse (European #3) through eighth grade. Don attended and graduated from Pella High School in 1952. He enlisted in the Naval Reserves, serving from 1952-1961.

In 1954 he married Elsie Mae Van Wyk and in 1957,they moved to the family farmstead where Don had grown up. Thus began the second generation of Bloms to live and work on the family farm as he and Elsie raised four boys of their own. Don held a deep respect for the land which he passed down to his sons and grandchildren, along with his faith in Jesus Christ, and an appreciation for neighbors and small-town values.

Don inherited from his father a passion for buying and raising sheep. Many people in Pella and surrounding counties could spot him bringing home another dozen lambs from Colfax sale barn in his trademark "sheep hauler." How that old truck kept going through rain, sleet, snow and ice, nobody knew - but like the man behind the wheel, it stayed the course year in and year out.

For thirty-eight years, Don enjoyed driving school bus for Pella Community Schools. From taking children to and from school each day to driving extended trips for activities like football, wrestling, and band. He enjoyed being a part of young people's lives, encouraging them with a kind word, knowing smile and taking a genuine interest in their challenges and accomplishments. "Donnie Blom" had a special ability to make every person seem important; a talent, which endeared him to people of all ages.

His interests off the farm over his lifetime included umpiring softball, hunting, fishing, breakfasting with friends, sharing coffee and telling tales at the feed store, rooting for his beloved Chicago Cubs, and proudly showing off his 1967 John Deere 3020 at the WHO and Red Rock Threshers annual tractor rides. And as anyone who attends local school sporting events knows, it was a rare Friday night that Don, typically with two or three of his brothers, was not seen watching one of Pella's football, basketball, wrestling, or baseball games.

One of his greatest joys in life were his grandchildren; he loved spending time with them, attending their activities, playing cards with them and investing time in their lives. He would sit down with them around the kitchen table and ask what was going on in their lives. The conversations would often then trend to how they could help him feed the sheep, fix something or help out with another project on the farm.

Don was committed to Pella Lions Club, consistently promoting their causes and once each year, sold tickets for the Lions Pork Supper Fundraiser, outselling all other members combined . If you didn't buy a Lion's ticket from Don in the past thirty years, then it's doubtful you have ever lived in Pella.

Don would be the first to credit his steadfast faith in Jesus Christ as his source of strength throughout his life. He often expressed his gratitude for how God had rewarded him with opportunities to be of service to others. For over sixty years, Don has been an active member of Third Reformed Church in Pella, serving as an elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher, usher, and witness for Christ in all his affairs.

Don is survived by his wife Elsie and their three sons and families: Joel (Anita) of Herrliberg, Switzerland, Burton (Mary) of Marshalltown, and George (Kimberly) of Pella; grandchildren: Julius and Luisa of Herrliberg, Switzerland, Daniel, David, and Stephen of Marshalltown, Matthew (Bessa) of Clear Lake, Caleb, Hannah, and Gabriel of Pella; He is also survived by his brothers Herb (Kathy) and Jerry (Judy) and his sister-in-law, Karen Blom, sisters-in-law Edna Ozinga, Betty Bandstra, Irene Van Wyk, Tressie Van Weelden, and Artie Van Zee, and brothers-in-law Jim Bandstra, Bill Lowe, and Wayne Vander Pol.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clara and William, son Bill (1961-2014), brother Keith (1939-2011), brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Leonard (Gretta) Van Wyk, Jacob Ozinga, Harold Van Wyk, Freda (Gilbert) Vande Wal, Ross Van Wyk, Arie Van Weelden, Jr., Keith Van Zee, Phyllis Lowe, and Darlene Vander Pol.

Visitation

1:00 P.M., Sunday, February 5, 2017
Family will be present 2:00 to 4:00 P.M.
Third Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

Funeral Services

10:30 A.M., Monday, February 6, 2017
Third Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

In Lieu Of Flowers, Memorials May Be Given To

Third Reformed Church missions

Family

Wife: Elsie Blom, Pella, Iowa
Children: Joel and Anita Blom, Zurich, Switzerland
Burt and Mary Blom, Marshalltown, Iowa
George and Kimberly Blom, Pella, Iowa