Charles Fredrick Blumke

Charles Fredrick (Bud) Blumke was born Jan. 18, 1933, to Leonhart and Malinda Blumke in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He grew up in Minneapolis, MN, where he graduated from Roosevelt H.S. Bud served in the Army during the early 1950s and used his GI Bill to graduate from the University of Minnesota in 1959, with a degree in Statistics. For most of his career, he worked for Bunker, Ramo Company as a Computer Programmer/Analyst, in many places (Arizona, Germany, Hawaii and California.) Bud is survived by his wife of 33 years, Barbara (BJ) Blumke, his sister, Gloria Simmers, four children, three stepchildren, 20 grandchildren, five great-grands, and many nephews and nieces.

He married Mary Martha Knorr in 1957 and they had four children. She died in 1988. His children are Marci Kelly (Kirk), Joel Blumke (Susan), Andrew Blumke and Rebecca Hsi (Mark). His stepchildren are Karen Olsen (Ray), Richard Kasten (Lynn) and Kathryn Lesser. He was most proud of the blended family, where ALL their children have new relationships based on a love of family.

Music was always a large part of Bud's life. He sang in many church choirs as well as in a Barbershop Chorus. He enjoyed singing in a quartet, too. His love of travel took him and BJ to all 50 state capitols and the U.S. capitol during 6 1/2 years.

Bud had been a believer in Jesus since his teens and grew closer to the Lord over the years. He became a member of Green Valley Baptist Church in 2010, and has served in many ways, including serving as a deacon of the church.

One of the highlights of his last year was the ability to go to Washington D.C. with the Southern Arizona Honor Flight. That was only two months ago!

He will be remembered for his ready smile and sense of humor. God gave him a full life of almost 91 years.

He is now home with Jesus.