Kenneth Edwin Blum

1938 - 2024

Kenneth Edwin Blum

July 29, 1938 - May 27, 2024

NEW GLARUS - Kenneth "Kenny" Edwin Blum passed away at home on May 27, 2024.

He was born in Monroe, WI, on July 29, 1938, to John and Alma Blum, and joined two siblings at home on the farm in York Township. He attended New Glarus High School and then started working at the Kubly Garage. He bought the Citi Service gas station in New Glarus and operated that for several years. He started work at Conney Safety Supply in Madison and worked there until retiring in 1996. In 1995, he and his wife became the owners of Four Corner's Restaurant and Bar and, together, they ran that until later moving to Arizona. During all of his working years, Kenny held part-time jobs tending bar or cooking. He worked many years at the New Glarus Hotel and later at the Dayton Hide-Away and Edelweiss Country Club. In Arizona, he continued to work cooking at a country club and doing handyman work. Despite working a lot, he enjoyed a polka dance whenever he could. Kenny also liked traveling, visiting many states as well as several European countries.

Kenny was a busy guy until open-heart surgery and later a stroke slowed him down. He loved to work and enjoyed meeting and talking to anyone and everyone but it was his family that held his heart.

He married Beverly Bethke in 1960 and they had a son in 1961. Three more children quickly followed before they divorced. He married Harriet Buss in 1971 and together they had one daughter.

Kenny was predeceased by his parents, John and Alma; infant son, Anthony; sister and brother-in-law, Darlene and Elroy Duerst; brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Jean Blum; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Dick and LouAnn Buss, and Janet and Smokey Babler.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Harriet; children: Tracy (Paul) Howard, Sherry (Randy) Dreger, Tony (Kate McCanna) and Ginger Blum; grandchildren: Brett Beckwith, Aaron (Dulce) Gill, Bryna Gill, Kennedy Dreger, Dakota (Garrett) Lederman, Tyler Blum, Kyle Blum and Sage Blum; great-grandchildren: Dallas, Aidan, Adriian, Emma and Lake; sisters-in-law: Carol Buss and Mary Caravello; many nieces and nephews; and his faithful companion, Charlie.

A celebration of Kenny's life will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at the New Glarus Fest Haus, 106 Third Ave., New Glarus, WI.

The Zentner-Beal Funeral Home of New Glarus is assisting the family.

The family would like to thank SSM Health at Home Hospice staff, especially Kelly and Meghan, for taking such good care of Dad during the last few weeks.

"Dad, we'll miss your smile. We hope you're dancing in the clouds."

Online condolences may be given at www.bealfuneralhomes.com.