Wilbur Leroy Bluhm

TIGARD – Wilbur Leroy Bluhm, 98, died peacefully to be with the Lord, with family at his side, on September 25, 2025 while in hospice after suffering a debilitating stroke 18 months earlier.

Wilbur was born January 29, 1927 to Paul Bluhm and Anna Schneebeck Bluhm in Seward, Nebraska, and attended public schools there where he graduated from Seward High School in 1943. Subsequently, Wilbur attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where he graduated in 1947 as a proud alumnus with a BS degree in agriculture. In 1964, he earned an MS degree in agricultural extension from Purdue University. Wilbur also served in the U.S. Air Force in Illinois from 1950 to 1954.

Post graduation from the University of Nebraska, he met Mary Louise Brunzell and they wed in the United Methodist Church in Holdredge, Nebraska on August 13, 1953. In 1957 they moved to Salem, Oregon. After moving to Oregon, a daughter, Ann, and two sons, Bob and Jim were born. In Salem, Wilbur worked for the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service, the last 11 years as Marion County Staff Chairman, while specializing in ornamental horticulture. Ultimately, Wilbur retired after 27 years of service with the OSU Extension Service, having attained a position of Professor Emeritus at OSU. After he retired, Wilbur stayed busy in the horticulture field through consulting and involvement with professional organizations locally and worldwide, in addition to teaching classes for professional nursery and landscape contractors.

Wilbur was a faithful member at First United Methodist Church in Salem for 66 years. At the church, he held a number of offices, served on numerous committees, participated in adult education, and sang in the choir for many years.

Wilbur’s many and varied passions helped define him as the remarkable man that he was. The following represent just a few of his interests that he pursued with gusto: music and singing, hiking and the great outdoors, native plant identification and cataloguing of Oregon’s plant locations around the state, and extensive family genealogy and books he authored about his family and life experiences. He and Mary were also very actively involved in accumulating an amazing collection of American Brilliant Cut Glass, with a related deep involvement in the American Cut Glass Association. Wilbur also maintained perfect attendance at Rotary Club meetings for over 50 years. He was a man of great intellectual curiosity and a thirst for knowledge that continued throughout his life.

Wilbur was very loyal to his Salem area community and found many ways to volunteer and lend his time and energy to tackle needs and strengthen the community fiber.

While balancing his career and community commitments, Wilbur was a faithful family man who actively led, participated and supported the growth and development of his family.

Wilbur was preceded in death by Mary, his wife of 59 years, and later his companion Coralee Cox, along with his daughter Ann Bluhm Mattson, and daughter-in-law Carol Bluhm. He is survived by sons Bob (Melodee) and Jim (Amy), son-in-law Dean (Rosemary) Mattson as well as six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and other relatives, and by many friends. A special thank you to the team of caregivers at Paradise Adult Foster Home in Tigard, and Agape Hospice.

Wilbur will forever be remembered as a loving, caring and faithful husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

A memorial service and celebration of life is planned for December 13 at 1:00 pm at First United Methodist Church in Salem, Oregon.