Born: March 27, 1906 in DeWitt, IA
Died: May 21, 2002 in Davenport, IA


The following is Mr. Bloom's obituary dated May 24, 2002:

"Private family services for John Bloom, 96, a resident of Davenport, will be held. burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Davenport (IA). Visitation is 4-7 p.m. today at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. Mr. Bloom died peacefully Tuesday, May 21, 2002, at his residence in Davenport. John Vincent Bloom was born March 27, 1906, in DeWitt, Iowa, a son of John V. and Caroline (Hansman) Bloom Sr. He married Isabel Rose Scherer in Davenport in 1938. She preceded him in death on May 1, 2001. John entered St. Ambrose College, Davenport, and graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago. He was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate degree from St. Ambrose University. He was a commercial artist for several Quad-City area manufacturing companies. John also maintained his interest in fine arts throughout his life. He was a talented artist, sketcher, lithographer, painter and carver. John was fascinated by the natural world around him. A beloved personality, John was seen on a daily basis walking through the Village of East Davenport. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the John Bloom Memorial Fund for future riverfront sculptures. Survivors include sons and a daughter-in-law, Jerry Bloom, Davenport, and Tom and Jan Bloom, Oxford, Iowa; and a brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Jean Bloom, Davenport. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Charles Bloom, in 1981."

-(from the Quad City Times, May 24, 2002)
(obituary courtesy of Diane from Rock Island)

John Bloom was commissioned to do the following murals funded under the Treasury Department's Section:

De Witt, IA Post Office - "Shucking Corn,", installed in 1938, oil on canvas
Tipton, IA Post Office - "Cattle," installed in 1940, oil on canvas

Additional link for John Bloom:
http://radio.weblogs.com/0100243/2002/05/23.html

Search the Smithsonian Art Museum for John Bloom at:
http://nmaa-ryder.si.edu/