Robert Cecil Bloom

Robert Cecil Bloom, age 73, passed away Thursday morning, November 8, 2012 at his home in DeTour Township Michigan. Bob was born April 21,1939 in South Bend, Indiana to the late Chester and Marion (Replogle). He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1957 and immediately joined the US Navy and served as signalman on the USS Manatee, a tanker fueling ships in the Pacific. Leaving the Navy in 1961 Bob married Leora Slaughter and began his journeyman training in tool and die and worked in several job shops ending up as tool room supervisor at Rockwell International in Allegan MI. On June 7, 1975 Bob married Jean Mason and they moved to DeTour Village where he worked at numerous jobs as carpenter, machinist, TV engineer at Channel 8 in Goetzville, MI., Pinkerton guard at the Cederville Dolomite quarry, and driver for Great Lakes Pilots. In DeTour Bob established his own machine shop, built his seven level two season home (winter home earth sheltered) and began an artistic career in stained glass. He has been known as the "Village Tinker" creating art pieces, repairing numerous projects and mentoring several youngsters in his shop. He displayed his art pieces in summer art fairs and his stained glass windows are in six churches in DeTour, Drummond Island, Petoskey and Macinaw City. His home is blessed with many light fixtures incorporating musical instruments. Bob has been a member of the American Legion, Sacred heart Catholic Church, DeTour Community Choir and served on the Detour Area School Board. Bob grew up on Lake Michigan and loved being on the water. He earned his USS Coast Guard Captain's License in 1995. He enjoyed sailing with his wife Jean on the "Return to Forever" into the North channel, motoring on the houseboat "Cedar Lady"on the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, and row-sailing an old lifeboat with youngsters on several trips from the Sault to DeTour on the St. Mary's River. His unique barge he built in DeTour "The SeaGull Perch"was a local landmark in Seymour bay. His last boat effort was the cutting in half the "Eva A", a steel gill net boat, and raising this half as a roof on his "Boat House" cabin. Bob is survived by his first wife Leora, his second wife, Jean Bloom; four children; Robert (Connie) Bloom of Pullman, MI, Scott (Teresa) Bloom of Fennville, MI, Paul (Melissa) Mason of Grand Rapids, MI, and Douglas (Diane)Mason of Sterling, VA and ten grandchildren; Roberto, Alex, Reid, Tanner, Archie, Samuel, Martin, Emily, London,and Cyrus. Surviving also are the five foster children who lived with the Blooms in DeTour; John, Harold, Kevin and Shawn Sisson and Jeremy Reed. According to Bob's wishes, no public services will be held. Memorials may be sent to Hospice House in the Sault. The family is especially thankful for the medical care from Dr. Thilik Chander, the War Memorial Hospital staff and finally the most gracious care from the Hospice staff; Sherri Walker, RN and Dr. Scott Aldrich and staff who helped make bob's last two months comfortable at home.

Tributes

Robert Cecil Bloom

April 21, 1939 - November 8, 2012