Obituaries

Bertrand "Bert" Bluma, having completed that which was given him to do, was called by God to his heavenly home on January 22, 2025. He was born in Green Bay on October 24, 1930, the son of Edward and Julia (Rozmiarek) Bluma.

Bert’s early life journey led him to the priesthood. He was ordained a Franciscan priest in 1956. He received a Master of Arts degree in English at St. Bonaventure University in New York and went on to teach English at a number of Franciscan high schools. That journey took an unexpected turn when he met his wife, Dawn, in 1975. Dawn was also in religious life, but they chose to follow their love for each other and married in 1977.

They made DeForest their home in 1978, when Bert began a new career with the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services as an analyst and educator related to assistance programs. During this time, he and Dawn had three children who participated in swimming, soccer and football. Bert was at every possible game/event, always filled with pride.

One year after his retirement, his journey took another unexpected turn, and he became grandfather and primary babysitter to two sets of twin grandsons. He spent 10 years taking care of them and considered those years a tremendous gift in his life.

Bert is survived by his wife Dawn Bluma, of DeForest, Wisconsin; two sons, Adam Bluma, Luke Bluma and his wife Amy; daughter Cortney Wood (Bluma) and her husband, Dylan; grandsons Dominic, Talon, Ryker and Knox Wood; granddaughter, Joy Bluma; sister Carolyn Kemper (Bluma), sister-in-law Rita Bluma, as well as nieces, nephews and Dawn’s family who loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Juliana (Rozmiarek) Bluma, brothers Rev. Dacian Bluma, OFM, Brother James Bluma, CSC, and Len (Rita) of Green Bay, WI, and sisters, Helen LeCaptain of New Franken, WI, Esther Arvey of Clintonville, WI.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:30 p.m. on January 31st, at St. Olaf Catholic Church, 623 Jefferson Street, DeForest. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until time of Mass at the church. Burial will be at St. Olaf Catholic Cemetery.

The family is grateful beyond measure for the warm and tender care and support of the staff at Brighton Hospice during the time they spent with Bert and Dawn on this journey. Please consider a memorial gift to Brighton Hospice or St. Olaf Parish.

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

We are comforted knowing that Bert Bluma knows who Bert Bluma is again. Our husband/father/grandfather has been released from his broken body and mind and is alive — fully cognizant, free of Alzheimer’s disease — with Jesus. What a glorious thought!