David D. Blum

Dave Blum, 57, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Sunday, October 2, 2011 at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 5, 2011 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Funeral services will be at West Des Moines United Methodist Church, 720 Grand Ave. in West Des Moines on Thursday, October 6 at 10 a.m.

Dave was born at the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California on November 25, 1953 to Donald and Jeanne Blum. When he was six weeks old the family came home to Rockford, Iowa where his parents farmed until 1962. By this time he had three younger brothers . . . Steven, Robert, and James. David attended elementary schools at Aplington and Greene until the family settled in Nashua in 1965, where he grew up and graduated from Nashua High School in 1972. He was an active Bulldog participating in numerous sports and school activities, along with governing over his brothers when he could… If Dave had a rough day, all the brothers had a rough day.

Dave attended Iowa State University and graduated in 1976 with a double major in Psychology and Zoology, and later a Master of Science in Education. Dave was on the All University Championship Intramural Co-Ed inner tube water polo team. The championship was due in great part to Dave's sneaky defensive tactics on the other team's best player. While attending college he worked a couple of summers at the White Farm Equipment Co. in Charles City, on third shift in the foundry shoveling sand from under the conveyor. Coming home covered in black soot enhanced Dave’s love of education. He also worked one year at The Hen House while attending school. He didn't have a car, so he rode his bike and ate quite a bit of chicken. He even got to take leftovers home but eventually didn't feel well and later found out he was allergic to poultry. Sometimes you just can't win!

He married his high school sweetheart Dawn Tracy in 1977 and they were blessed with two children, Andrew and Amy. He taught them the finer things in life… searching for night crawlers with a flashlight, discussing the exciting tales of the stars in the sky and providing tips on hitting line drives. Dave loved to play cards, especially 500, with his family and frustrated plenty of sisters-in-law with his calm competitive edge.

Dave realized his teaching dreams with positions in the Fort Dodge and West Des Moines school systems as a teacher, coach, and administrator. His first job was as a Junior High Science teacher where he once had a tarantula in his classroom. The tarantula went through the molting process and lost its skin, which is normal, but they never saw the spider again! When he became an administrator, he didn’t lose sight of his dream. He took whatever opportunities he could to be with students. Whether it was going on overnight field trips, showing brain teasers at the Math Bowl or lying on his back inside Star Lab teaching 6th graders about constellations, he treasured teachable moments. He enjoyed being “out there in the trenches” with his teachers, working with them in various curriculum meetings and celebrating their successes, in the classroom and outside of school.

Dave continued his passion for education by returning to the classroom as an adjunct instructor for Upper Iowa and Drake. Teaching adults was a two-way street for him – he shared his insights and experiences and they shared their enthusiasm and fresh ideas. He also participated in many educational organizations and was very active in the Iowa Council of Math Teachers, providing support and guidance, as well as serving on the Executive Board. He retired in July 2011 as Director of Curriculum for Math and Science for the West Des Moines Community Schools.

Dave enjoyed fishing and hunting throughout the Midwest, was an avid reader and cheered on his Iowa State Cyclones and St. Louis Cardinals. Although there were many proud moments during his lifetime, including marrying his high school sweetie, raising his children and watching them achieve their milestones, one of Dave’s proudest accomplishments was donating enough blood to fill 379.6 beakers.

Dave will be greatly missed by his wife of 34 years, Dawn; his parents, Donald and Jeanne Blum; his children, Andrew (Michelle) Blum, and Amy (Todd) White; granddaughter, Mackenzie Marie Blum; and siblings, Steven (Laura) Blum, Robert (Maria) Blum, James (Nancy) Blum, 13 nieces and nephews and three active grand nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the West Des Moines Community School Foundation in memory of Dave Blum for the Valley High School Science Department, 3550 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50265-5556. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Print