Robert "Bob" F. Blume

Robert F. “Bob” Blume, 87, of East Peoria, passed away surrounded by family at 1:25pm Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at Heddington Oaks in Peoria, after a valiant 19-year battle with cancer. Bob was born May 3, 1930 in Peoria to Samuel E. and Mae L. McCabe Blume. He married Frances A. “Max” Crosiar on April 7, 1957 in Streator. They spent 59 loving years together until Max passed away April 9, 2016. Surviving are his children, Robert (Julie) Blume of East Peoria, Sally (Tom) Kelly of Chicago, Nancy (Mike) Watson of Dunlap and Kelly (Jeff) Albrecht of Dunlap; grandchildren, Jonathan (Jennifer) Iwert, Ashley (Mike) Beck, Emily and Kate Albrecht, Sam and Molly Royce, Curt (Jaclyn) Watson, Jen (Carlos) Perez, Brooke (Zach) Wicklund, Andrew Watson and Lindsey (Jayme) Belsly; great-grandchildren, Sara Iwert, Olivia Beck, Ben and Hannah Watson, Ryan and Charlie Wicklund, and Mikayla Perez; brother, Kenneth (Janice) Crosiar of Alpharetta, GA; niece and nephew, Sue (Nick) Kremer and Craig (Laurie) Hartter; and dear friend, Stanley “Al” (the late Ruth) Ransom. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Darby Diane Blume; granddaughter, Megan Rae Royce; siblings, Bill and Joyce, and his beloved wife Max. Bob served in the US Navy for eight years. He was aboard the battleship USS Mississippi during the Korean Conflict and also served at the Naval Air Station in Port Lyautey, French Morocco. In 1960, he took over Blume Construction from his father. Bob designed and built hundreds of homes in the area and held a patent on a foundation drainage system; he was an innovator in solar applications and energy efficient construction and was also a Real Estate Broker. He was the oldest active member of the Home Builders’ Association of Greater Peoria, where he served as President in 1989 and sat on many committees. He was also a 68-year member of Carpenters’ Local 237, and had served on the East Peoria Zoning Board. He was a Mason and member of the Hilton Lodge #1143 A.F. & A.M. Bob’s family would like to thank Illinois Cancer Care, UnityPoint Hospice, and Heddington Oaks for their loving care and support. A funeral service for Bob will be held at 11 am Monday, July 24, 2017 at Deiters Funeral Home & Crematory in East Peoria. Chaplain Frank Valente will officiate. Visitation will be from 2-4:00 pm Sunday, July 23, 2017 at the funeral home; additional visitation will be one half hour prior to the service Monday. Interment will be at Fondulac Cemetery in East Peoria. Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Robert "Bob" F. Blume

May 3, 1930 - July 18, 2017