Robert William Blohm (“Bob”), a long-time resident of Clinton Township, Michigan, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2020, with his friend Carol by his side, just two months shy of his 95th birthday. He was a doting husband, devoted father, decorated war veteran, and an engineer through-and through.
Bob was born in Detroit on April 12, 1925, to William and Louise Blohm. He was an east-sider, and spent his youth playing baseball, delivering newspapers, and keeping track of his two younger brothers, Ralph and John. After graduating from Southeastern High School, Bob was immediately drafted into the Army, thus becoming an official member of the greatest generation.
In early 1943, Bob was sent overseas to North Africa. As a member of the tank destroyers, he was attached to a British division charged with chasing Rommel out of North Africa. Bob was then “volunteered” into the Airborne Rangers, and was involved in some of World War Two’s most intense campaigns, fighting his way through Africa, Sicily and Europe. He landed on Omaha Beach, fought through St. Lo and the hedgerows, through France, the Rhineland and into Belgium. He was wounded twice. His war ended when he suffered significant wounds on December 23, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. Bob earned the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and numerous other accommodations. Like others of his generation, he didn’t like to talk about that time of his life. He always emphasized he was one of many who had served.
After the war, Bob proudly attended Michigan Agricultural College (now MSU), majoring in mechanical engineering. No surprise there. What was a surprise is how this bachelor veteran fell head-over-heels for Patricia, a pretty young brunette from Albion, Michigan. Bob and Pat were married on June 17, 1950, and were blessed with fifty-five years together. They showed all five of their children how a marriage should work, and how to love and take care of each other. They shared a strong Christian faith, joining a little start-up church in Roseville in the early 1960’s called Bethany Lutheran. Throughout the years, Bethany became the cornerstone of the family–a place for baptisms, confirmations, weddings, holidays, and sadly, funerals. That’s where Bob said goodbye to Patricia in February, 2005. Bob’s Bethany family continued to shower him with love throughout the years. They watched over him, and literally stood at the door waiting for him to arrive, helping the old guy into the church. To all the wonderful people at Bethany: Our family is eternally grateful to you. We love you all.
Right behind Bob’s love of family, was his love for all things engineering. Bob was a “clever engineer,” and a master problem solver, well respected throughout his industry. A second generation small businessman, Bob began RenCen Machine Company in the early 1980’s, and ended his long run this past October, retiring at the young age of 94.
Bob has led a blessed life, surrounded by family and friends who love and respect him. We will miss his sense of humor (sometimes off color), his intellect, his courage, his optimism, his charitable nature, and the devotion he showed his family and friends. As he often said to his children when headed out the door...”Onward Christian Soldiers!”
Bob was preceded in death by his beloved Patricia (2005), and brother Ralph Blohm. He is survived by his children, Rev. Robert Blohm Jr. (Linda), Susan McDonald, Julie Ohlsson (Gary), Jeffrey Blohm (Karen), Thomas Blohm (Janet), 12 grandchildren: Elizabeth (Eli), Sarah, Charlie, Madeline, Anna, Micalah, Allison, Amanda, Megan (Andrew), Anna (Scott), Michelle (Fred), Heather (Brandon) and one great-grandchild, Benjamin. He is also survived by his brother John (Betty) Blohm, and his sister-in-law, Jeanne Blohm.
On behalf of the family, we would like to apologize to every waitress who ever waited on Bob. In his defense, he was an excellent tipper.
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