Joseph Robert Bloom

Joseph Robert Bloom passed peacefully on his farm in Bell Oak surrounded by family members on May 20, 2025, at the age of 93. Joe was born in his grandparent’s house on M-52 in Locke Township on 01/30/1932 to Robert Ellis Bloom and Ruth Lois Bickford. Beloved father of Cindy (Ralph) Dansby, Michael (Debbie) Bloom, Brian (Julie) Bloom, Scott Bloom, Carrie (Mark) Hayward, Ruth Bloom, step-father of Teressa (James) Long, Lynn (Trevor) Goedert, Arthur (Tia) Bischoff and brother of Joann McCrum. He also leaves behind 20 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. He is predeceased by his son Dean, his siblings Lois Cooper, Helen Towersey, Nancy Ruder, Russell Bloom, Judy Bloom, and his wives Barbara and Janet.

Joe grew up on his father’s farm in Williamston and got his education in the Rowley School one-room schoolhouse through 8th grade. He earned his driver’s license at age 12 to transport his family to appointments. Joe was a member of the Vantown 4H club showing swine, dairy, and crops in the 1940s. He then attended Williamston High school where he was a 4 sport athlete. Joe played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. He earned 13 Varsity letters, captained 3 of his sports teams his senior year, and was one of the top punters in the state as a member of the football team. He also served as sentinel, reporter, and eventually president of his FFA chapter, earning his state farmer degree in addition to his diploma when he graduated from Williamston in 1950. After high school Joe attended Michigan State College where he studied Agricultural Science and Education. At this time all male students were required to complete 2 full years of ROTC training, but Joe elected to train all 4 years and focused on becoming a pilot. Freshmen were not allowed on the roster his first year playing football at MSC, so he served as a member of the scout team. Joe was out for the team again his sophomore year, but ended up suffering a career-ending knee injury. He met his wife Barbara while still in college, and married her on June 26th of 1954 in Jackson, Michigan. Immediately following his marriage he completed his agricultural student teaching at Charlotte High School, and graduated from MSC in December of that same year. Upon graduation Joe was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, and entered the service in May 1955. While in the service Joe flew several different types of planes, including the C-130, T-6, B-25, C-119, and the T-33. After graduating from his pilot training he served as an instructor for the T-33 and B-25. His service ended in 1959, but he stayed in the reserves until 1977, and retired as a Major.

When he finished service in 1959, Joe used his GI Bill to purchase farmland with his brother, Russell. At that time they paid $63,000 for 266 acres and a bulk tank in Bell Oak, expanding Bloom Family Farms into the neighboring town of Webberville. He retained 131 of those acres, and farmed them in addition to 120 acres in Williamston that his father passed down to him. Joe still owned and operated the 251-acre beef cattle farm with his son, Scott.

In addition to farming, Joe became the agriculture instructor at Dansville High School in 1973, a role that he would remain in until he retired after 28 years in 2001. While working at Dansville he also served as a JV football coach, track coach, baseball coach, FFA advisor, and even the school’s drivers education teacher. In addition, he ran the maple syrup production program there called the “Sugar Shack.” He served in his community as Webberville 4-H’s leader for swine, dairy, and crops, and was honored in 2004 as Ingham County’s annual “Friend of the Fair.” Later when he was no longer active in FFA or 4H he continued to donate to the Dansville FFA program, which led to the annual Joe and Janet Bloom Leadership Award. This award provides a scholarship to an FFA student who is especially hard-working and who demonstrates the qualities that Joe wanted to see in his students.

After the passing of his first wife, Barbara, in 1995, he married Janet Bischoff on November 20 1999. Joe retired from teaching shortly thereafter, and went right back to work on campus in East Lansing. Janet was already working at the Breslin Center there, so he became a gate host with her. In addition to having worked as a gate host for MSU basketball at the Breslin for 18 years, he and Jan were proctors for exams on campus for 15 years, and also MSU football & basketball season ticket holders. Joe retired from working at the Breslin in 2020. Shortly after that he moved back out to his farm where he spent the rest of his days with family.

Visitation for Joseph will be held Tuesday, May 27, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 205 East Middle Street, Williamston, MI 48895. The funeral service will occur Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Family Life Wesleyan Church, 3720 Rowley Rd, Williamston, MI 48895. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Bell Oak Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make cash donations or checks made payable to Dansville FFA in Joe’s memory. Those can be mailed to the Gorsline Runciman Funeral home at 205 E Middle st Williamston MI 48895.