Reverend Willis L. "Will" Bloedow

age 80, died peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday February 27, 2024. Will was born on July 19th,1943, the youngest of six children to Otto A Bloedow and Margaret (Zieske) Bloedow in Springfield, MN.  He was baptized into the Christian faith on August 15, 1943, By Reverend Arthur Wachholz. He was confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Minneapolis on April 14, 1957, by Reverend Max Culver. For the first nine years of his life, he lived on a farm near Wanda, MN. In 1952 he moved from the family farm to Golden Valley MN, in greater Minneapolis. He graduated from Robbinsdale HS in 1961 and went on to graduate from St Olaf College in 1965, with a BA in History. He married his college sweetheart Ruth Jacobson in 1966. He then attended Luther Theological Seminary graduating with a Master of Divinity. He was ordained into the American Lutheran Church on June 22, 1969. He served Grace Lutheran Church in Bruce, SD, Emanuel Lutheran Church in Clara City, MN and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson, MN. He was a long serving pastor in the ELCA serving at First English Lutheran Church in Appleton, WI for 29 years retiring in 2003.

Will served on the Appleton Public Library Board of Directors for 27 years and the Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS) Board for 16 years. There were many other organizations that he was involved in that were close to his heart including the Center for Grieving Children, the Community Health Action Team through Thedacare, the Appleton Area School District Crisis Response Team, Fox Valley Voices of Men domestic violence awareness, the Wisconsin Historical Society, The Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Fox Valley Technical College, and many others.

Will is survived by his wife Ruth of 57 years, his daughters: Ann De Broux and Son-in law Scott De Broux of Madison WI, his daughter Amy Bloedow of Madison, WI, his Granddaughter Gracie De Broux-Gonzalez and her husband Christian Gonzalez, of Madison WI;  sisters-in-law: Elsa Bloedow (Gerald) and Tinka Bloedow (Otto) and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Otto A. and Margaret Bloedow, his sister Grace Rasmussen and her husband Maynard, his brother Donald and his wife Jurene, brother Gerald, his sister Ruth Snedeker and her husband Leroy and brother Otto F (Junior) Bloedow.

Will's celebration of life will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 11 AM at First English Lutheran Church, Appleton, WI with Rev. Mary Bauer officiating. Visitation will begin at 9 AM until the time of service. He will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Appleton.  A memorial has been established for scholarship at Fox Valley Technical College Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Click on the link below to view the service live

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/4602191487

"Let us give thanks for one another,

for just being together,

for differences that complement and complete,

for gifts which enrich

and disagreements which challenge,

for our oneness in Christ."

Excerpt from "Let Us Give Thanks" by Gerhard E. Frost