Charles M. Blum

June 26, 1935 - November 25, 2020

Charles Michael Blum was born on June 26, 1935. Charles (Charlie) was the 5th of 11 children born to Chris and Nora Blum. He was raised on the farm near Panama, Iowa, and attended St. Mary's School. He enlisted in the Army when he was 22 and spent his service years stateside and in Germany. After returning from active duty he spent his adult life farming in both Shelby and Harrison County. He loved the farming community and felt an obligation to give support to young farmers starting out. Charles was active in parish and community affairs, helping at the parish picnics, serving on different committees and the Rural Water Board. If you needed any help with anything, he was only a phone call away. In his younger years he was on the Volunteer Fire Department, enjoyed playing basketball, softball, bowling, boating, skiing in Colorado, and taking road trips to Arizona. He was a Catholic and practiced his religion throughout his entire life. You could even find him praying the rosary different times throughout the day on the same rosary beads that his dad made many years before. He enjoyed playing cards or just shooting the breeze with many other farmers and town folk … whether it be at the local or neighboring town bar/café or at the elevator. Charles never married but was a loving uncle to his many nieces and nephews throughout the years. Charles died on November 25, 2020 at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, Iowa attaining the age of 85 years, 5 months. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings Vernon (Irene) Blum, Virginia (Louis) Wingert, Mary Blum, Emil Blum, Chris Blum Jr. and Audrey Smith and brother-in-law Fred Clark. He is survived by his siblings, Sister Joyce Blum FSPA; Alice (Jerry) Zimmerman of Minden, Iowa; Jeannie (LeRoy) Heese of Defiance, Iowa; Judy Clark of Omaha, Nebraska; sister-in-law Pat Blum of Harlan, Iowa; brother-in-law Denny Smith of Plattsmouth, Nebraska; and many loving nieces and nephews and friends. No flowers please! Memorials are suggested to the Shelby County Catholic Schools or St. Mary's of the Assumption Church in Panama, Iowa or to a charity of your choice. Due to the pandemic, there will be a Private Family Service on November 30. A community celebration of Charlie's life will be held at a later date!