Timothy "Tim" Bloom

Although Tim Bloom only shared sixty-one years with us, the legacy he leaves behind is of a life well-lived, surrounded by people he loved and who loved him deeply in return.

Tim was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on March 11, 1947 to Dorothy McWilliam Bloom of Liverpool, England and Walter Bloom of Kalamazoo — true examples of the post World War II generation. A sense of optimism and positive ambition were everywhere, and Tim’s birth was a very welcomed event. Both of his parents had served their countries in the War — Dorothy as an ambulance driver in war-torn Liverpool and Walter in the U.S. Army based in England and Continental Europe after D-Day — and Tim inherited their heritage of service to country and family.

The oldest of the four Bloom children, Tim attended Oakwood Elementary, Oakwood Junior High and Loy Norrix High School, graduating in 1965. He distinguished himself both as an athlete, playing fullback and quarterback for the football team, and as an active Boy Scout, receiving the God and Country Award in 1960 and attaining the highest honor, Eagle Scout.

Tim joined the U.S. Army in 1967, served his country in the United States and Korea and received an honorable discharge in 1969. Shortly after his discharge, Tim’s love of animals led him to purchase several Old English Sheepdogs that he trained to championship status. His love of competition was a recurring theme throughout his life, whether it was collecting trophies for sheepdogs or racing go-carts, dirt biking and remote controlled cars. He was a member of the Great Lakes Quarter Scale Racers. Tim’s creative abilities always found an outlet.

In the years following his discharge from the Army, Tim graduated from Kalamazoo Valley Community College and then Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. While he would have made an outstanding primary school teacher, teaching jobs were just not available in Kalamazoo at that time, and Tim did not wish to leave the area. Instead, he directed his talents in other areas. He worked at the Kalamazoo State Hospital to subsidize his college education and as a substitute teacher in various Kalamazoo schools. Tim earned a CDL truck driver’s license and did long-distance driving for many years. He also drove and worked as a scheduler for Murco Packing Company and then as a driver for ICX.

Tim met his future wife, Marilyn Fleck, when he was coaching softball. It took many years of dating and Marilyn’s proposal of marriage before they finally tied the knot on July 2, 1994. Marilyn’s big and wonderfully-loving family encircled Tim and he found endless opportunities to take part in every aspect of her remarkable family. “Uncle Tim” made a spectacularly positive impact on his many nieces and nephews, and he was beloved by his two nieces and nephews on the Bloom side. Tim loved to travel and share his many toys and hobbies with all of them. It will be particularly difficult for these fine young people to contemplate the future without their Uncle Tim.

Tim was a man who thoroughly enjoyed life outside his workday, as well. His “toys” were a well-known part of his persona, and he made sure he always had extra toys to share. From his snowmobiles to his ATVs, his bicycles and boats to all his remote controlled vehicles, Tim was ready to assist and share in the fun.

He was known as a man who possessed exceptional amounts of patience and kindness. No matter how mechanically un-inclined some folks might be, he had a way of helping out in a kind way, or at least making the individual look better by fixing what had been messed up. He took the time to do special things that others perhaps too often just took for granted. A thinker who enjoyed following current events, he enjoyed conversations that ranged from politics to the latest sports news. He will be particularly missed by those who shared those long chats with Tim covering a long list of topics.

Travel was also close to Tim’s heart, perhaps because he started traveling early. As a three year old, he took his first ocean voyage across the Atlantic to visit his English relatives. He returned to Europe later in life, along with Marilyn, to visit his family in Norway. The two of them traveled far and wide in the United States, sometimes on their own but often with friends or family joining them. In particular, Tim and Marilyn loved traveling in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Tim had only retired as a driver from ICX in January of 2008 when he received the terrible cancer diagnosis, which took him from us far too quickly and far too early.

In the few short months he had left, Tim faced the terrible challenge of his illness with a stoic spirit and a brave outlook. The wise and caring assistance from Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan and Rose Arbor Hospice allowed Tim to finish his final chapter on earth in relative comfort, surrounded by love and family. He died Friday, September 12, 2008 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo.

If Tim were to borrow a phrase, he would have most likely chosen “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened” (by Dr. Seuss).

Tim’s loving family includes his wife, Marilyn (Fleck) Bloom; his parents, Walter Bloom and Dorothy Bloom; 3 siblings, Kerry (Deborah) Bloom of Gobles, Linda (Leonard) Duevel of Stavanger, Norway, Bradley (Cynthia) Bloom of Kalamazoo, 2 nieces and 2 nephews, Elsa Bloom, Erika and Paul Duevel, Garrett Bloom and numerous Fleck family nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Friends will be received Thursday 4-8 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo 6080 Stadium Drive 375-2900. Graveside services with full military honors will take place Friday at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Please visit Tim’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign his guest book, share a memory or photo, or make a memorial contribution to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or Rose Arbor Hospice.