|
Memorial Service: Wednesday April 4th
at 11 a.m. at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home
Celebration of Life: Wednesday from 3
p.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home
Funeral home:
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln
Obituary
Dr. Gilbert Eugene “Gene” Blaum died
on Monday, March 26, 2018 as a result of injuries
sustained in a car accident. Gene was born on July
9, 1936, in New Holland where he was raised. He
graduated Blackburn College in 1957 from the work
study program where he did masonry work to pay off
his tuition. He graduated from University of
Illinois Chicago in 1961, where he met Katherine
Camenzind, a nurse and they married on May 26, 1961.
He completed his residency at Resurrection Hospital
in Chicago and opened a practice in Park Ridge in
1962.
In 1964, they relocated his practice to Lincoln to
be closer to family and be involved in a smaller,
tight-knit community. He served in Vietnam for our
Armed Forces as an U.S. Army flight surgeon rising
to the rank of Captain from 1966-1968 where he was
awarded three Air Medals for flying in combat
missions, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with
Oak Leaf clusters for meritorious achievement in
combat.
With an honorable discharge, he settled back into
his hometown, Lincoln, and opened his family
practice ultimately serving over four thousand
patients and delivering hundreds of babies, many
generational. He was one of the founding members of
the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Medical Center and the
Family Medical Center and served as its President
and/or its Medical Director for over 30 years.
His list of accomplishments include Medical Staff
President: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital,
1973-75; 1980-85; 1990-99; President, Logan County
Medical Society, 1970-74; President: Logan County
Board of Health, 1967-77; President: Logan County
Heart Association, 1985-92; Director: IL Mid-State
Health Planning Council, 1975-85; Diplomat: National
Board of Medical Examiners; Diplomat: American Board
of Family Practice; Member and President: Lincoln
High School Board, 1979-85. He served on the Board
of Directors for Logan County Bank, Abraham Lincoln
Health System, and Lincoln College. He was named
Lincoln Courier’s “Man of the Year” 1970; and
received numerous community service awards.
|
Dr. Blaum was instrumental in many of
the innovations at ALMH including directing the
Inhalation Therapy Unit, Intensive Care Unit and
Cardiac Rehab Department but his passion was
creating an organized Emergency Medical Service
operation in Logan County, first as a department
within the hospital and later, as a nonprofit; the
Logan County Paramedic Association. Using what he
learned as a flight surgeon about triage, trauma and
emergency care, he trained and supported many
paramedics and was actively involved in the
ambulance service for over 35 years.
He is survived by three children; Jeff Blaum (Beth
Pryor) of St. Helena, CA, Pam Blaum Simpson (Gary
Smeltzer) of Napa, CA, Mike (Barb) Blaum, Downers
Grove, IL and six grandchildren, Abby Simpson, Ben
Simpson, Emily Blaum, Daniel Blaum, Charlie Blaum
and George Blaum.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert
George Blaum and Dixie Gertrude (Long) Blaum and his
sister, Suzanne Blaum Aper and brother-in-law Myron
Aper.
Along with his immediate family, Gene was devoted to
his niece Terri (Otie) Tripplett and nephew Tim Aper
along with their children and grandchildren and to
his cousin Paul (Sue) Beaver.
He had many interests, including flying, which came
from his military experience and he kept his pilot’s
license current after flying single engine planes
for years. Later in life, he fed his love for
learning by flying drones, cloning orchids, and
honing his piano and singing skills. His dogs,
Murphy and Duffy, also gave him much joy.
A memorial service will be held at 11 am on
Wednesday, April 4. The family will then greet
friends, relatives and patients for a celebration of
Gene’s life on Wednesday afternoon, from 3 – 7pm
both at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made in Dr.
Blaum’s name to the Logan County Paramedic
Association.
Click here to send a note of condolence to the family of Dr. Gilbert
Gene Blaum |
