John Rayln Bloom (1921 - 2003)

Born 22 Aug 1921 in Shirland, Winnebago, Illinois, United States

Husband of Norma Jean (Bates) Bloom — married 19 Jul 1940 in Rockton, Winnebago, Illinois, United States

Died 12 Feb 2003 at age 81 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States

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Biography

John Rayln, or Ray as he was called by friends and family, was born 22 Aug 1921 in Shirland, IL.^[1] He was the son of Swan and Evelyn (Dahlgren) Bloom.^[2][3]

He was confirmed in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Rockford in 1935. Ray attended school in the Rockford school system. graduating from Rockford High School in 1938.^[2] While in high school, Ray participated in ROTC.^[3]

On July 19, 1940, Ray married Norma Jean Bates^[2] at the Bates Centennial farm in Rockton. The couple would have five children^[2] during their 62 years of marriage, all of whom were born before the end of their first decade together.^[3]

Ray was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army 178th Battalion.^[2] Initially he was made a drill instructor at Ft. Hood, TX., likely owing to his experience in ROTC.^[3] His service didn't end with the military however. He was a member of the Masonic Temple in Roscoe and Mesa, and the Rockton United Methodist Church. His community activities included serving on the Stephen Mack School Board,^[3] Rockton Village Board (1968-1974)^[3] and other village committees.^[2]

After returning from the war, Ray worked several skilled shop-floor positions in Rockford's tool making firms, including Accurate Die Casting and Ingersol Milling. His wife returned to her pre-war/pre-family work at the Wagon Wheel restaurant for a time, and then became the plant secretary at Rockton's century-old paper mill, which was then owned by Sonoco. She retired after 17 years, in 1983.^[3]

He and Norma enjoyed their travels and time with their many friends in the Hononegah Chapter of the NCHA campers club.^[2] With some shrewd investments, they managed to put their children through college and still be able to purchase, in 1990, a small winter space at the Mesa RV Park to satisfy their snowbird instincts, and a summer fishing-home on Rock Lake in Wisconsin.^[3]

After a long illness, Ray passed away on 12 Feb 2003.^[1][2] Norma would join him some sixteen years later.^[4] They are laid to rest for eternity in the Rockton Township Cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50862684/john-ralyn-bloom: accessed 26 September 2022), memorial page for John Ralyn “Ray” Bloom (22 Aug 1921–12 Feb 2003), Find a Grave Memorial ID 50862684, citing Rockton Township Cemetery, Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Dean McMakin (contributor 46804161)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} Rockford Register Star (IL) - Sunday, February 16, 2003, obituary for John Rayln "Ray" Bloom
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} The Bates Centennial Farm of Rockton, Illinois, (1857-1990s), Antecedents-Stewards-Offshoots, by Charles Bates PH.D., published 1993 by Corn Field Press of Rockton, IL.
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58168826/norma-jean-bloom: accessed 26 September 2022), memorial page for Norma Jean Bates Bloom (15 Jun 1923–17 Apr 2019), Find a Grave Memorial ID 58168826, citing Rockton Township Cemetery, Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Dean McMakin (contributor 46804161)