Dad's Obituary

I have muddled through some difficult writing assignments in the past.  However, I have written 30 page business reports that were easier to write than the following few short paragraphs.  Dad was 74 when he died and it seemed difficult to me to reduced those years, 44 of which I shared with him, to a couple of cut and dry paragraphs.  What follows is a list of facts about Dad's life as most obituaries go.  However, it does not begin to address the impact his life had on those who knew and loved him.  I'm posting it here, because, due to his final wishes, there was no formal announcement in a newspaper anywhere.

We sang "Unclouded Day" at Dad's memorial service.  He liked Willie's version the best, but I'm sure if he could hear us, he enjoyed our version too.  Personally, I like the third and fourth verses the best.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page and turn off the website music before you click on the link.

Robert Howard Bloomer, born February 05, 1937, died on September 12, 2011, at U of M Hospital of liver failure. He was surrounded by family at the time of his death. Robert was born to Mary Louise Stickles and Virgil Bloomer. He attended Fulton Centralized School in AI, Ohio. When the family moved, he began attending school in Swanton where he graduated high school. During high school, Bob was a member of the Swanton Bulldogs football and basketball teams.  He attended Bowling Green State University, and became a member of the Ohio National Guard. Bob was also active as a youth group leader at the Swanton Missionary Church, and in later years, served as a member of the church board.

In 1958, he married Arlene Bower with whom he had three daughters. They divorced in 1987.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather Robert Bloomer, and his father, Virgil Bloomer, Bob began working in home improvement and construction. Together, they built houses and churches, did interior and exterior work and built barns. He had his own business, Vynal Exteriors of Ohio and Michigan and in 1972, Bob built a beautiful four bedroom home for his family.

Bob helped found Wiley Homes, Inc. in 1978, acting in the capacity of building maintenance and continuing his work on home improvement projects. Today, Wiley Homes continues to provide stable and caring homes for approximately 40 people who are mentally challenged. Bob continued to do light maintenance work at the group homes up until the time of his illness.

He married Stephanie Wiley, who survives him.

Also surviving are his daughters Valerie (Keith) Beerbower, Teresa (Mike) Deffely, and Melanie (Larry) Wolf, former spouse Arlene Bloomer, sisters Carol Watson, Jan (Dave) Jacobson, Marilyn Herriott, grandchildren Deanna, Jeannette, Eric, Melody, Amy, Timothy, Paul and Kristen Beerbower, Richard, Katherine, Corinne and Bethany Bent and Michael, Alaina, Jacob and Levi Deffely. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Virgil and Mary Louise Bloomer, his brother Harold Bloomer, brother-in-law Wayne Watson and brother-in-law Bill Herriott.