William W Bloom Jr.

“Bill” (as he preferred to be called) was born in Harvey, Illinois on September 22, 1939 to William W. Bloom, Sr., and Viola (Engel) Bloom. He grew up in Valparaiso, Indiana with his parents and his younger sister, Elizabeth. He attended school at Concordia High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended undergraduate Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He met his wife, Patsy R. Bloom, while at seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. After a vicarage in Oregon, they were married in St. Louis and had their first child, William W. Bloom IV there. The family moved to Starkville, Mississippi where he started a brand new parish, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. His two other children, Alexia Bailey and Christopher A. Bloom were both born there.

In 1969, the family moved to Sweetwater, Texas, where Bill was pastor at Faith Lutheran Church. Subsequently, they moved to Seguin, Texas in 1972, where Bill served as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church. He taught courses in Greek and in Ethics at Texas Lutheran Church in Seguin. In 1979, the family moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin, where he was pastor at University Lutheran Church for thirteen years. While in Whitewater, he earned his Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

In 1990, he accepted a call from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Holbrook, New York and served there until his retirement in 2006. While in Holbrook, He served as an adjunct professor at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York, teaching a course in Old Testament Prophets. He and his wife retired to Charlottesville, Virginia. He was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Culpeper, Virginia, singing in the choir and actively participating in programs and activities there. He also served as an adjunct and vacancy pastor for a variety of parishes in the area.

Throughout his life, Bill dedicated himself to service. He was a man who could speak with anyone and ended up knowing everyone. He was deeply interested in others and in caring for them. His favorite part of his ministry was in counseling people and in visiting them in the hospital. There is no doubt that he touched many people’s lives and profoundly shared with them the love of Christ that he so keenly felt himself.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth A. Bloom. He is survived by his loving wife Patsy “Pat” (Alexander) Bloom, his son William W. Bloom IV, his daughter Alexia Bailey, and his son Christopher A. Bloom.