- Date Of Birth: January 21, 1925
- Date Of Death: October 15, 2021
- State: Iowa
Raymond (RJ or Ray) John Blessum, PE, age 96, formerly of Oskaloosa, Iowa, passed this earth on October 15, 2021, at Deerfield Immanuel Community in Urbandale, IA. Ray was born January 21, 1925, to Frances Link and Johnnie E. Blessum in Niagara, ND. Later the family moved to Grand Forks, ND where he graduated from High School. Ray was both a good student and as an athlete he ran track, was the star running back on the school football team, and a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion. He spent his high school summers working on farms for his uncle (Lange).
After high school, he was drafted into the army to join in the Asian-Pacific Theater in WW II. Ray and his Army platoon saw action on many Pacific islands resulting in the loss of over 80% of the men in his platoon.
After WWII, Ray attended the University Of North Dakota on the GI Bill graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering. Ray was proud of his Engineering Degree. He began his working career as a land surveyor in North Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska. After working four years Ray took and passed his competency exam to become a Licensed Professional Engineer. Ray then began 40 plus years as a County Engineer (Guthrie, Howard and Mahaska). He also was a City Engineer and designed and built many necessary public projects including; street paving, utility projects (water main, sanitary, and storm sewer), bridges, and water treatment facilities for many communities that did not have engineering services available.
After retiring as the Mahaska County Engineer at 73 years of age, Ray continued with his public service by driving the local veterans to their medical appointments until his 85th birthday. Ray was a life time member of the American Legion and the Iowa Engineering Society. Ray and Betty were members of St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa.
Ray married Betty Louise Bates on June 7, 1947, celebrating 74 years of marriage. Ray is survived by his wife Betty and four children, Suzanne (Mike) Winter, Robert (Nancy) Blessum, A. Zane (Monica) Blessum, and James Blessum. Ray’s children have blessed him with 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Ray was proceeded in death by his brothers Gordon (Bea) Blessum, Keith (Mona) Blessum and his sisters, Mary (Don) Lange, and Barb (Richard ) Kuepers. Surviving Ray is his brother Greg (Katie) Szczech and sisters, Helen (Lew) Storkamp and Betty Jean (Pat) Hennessey.
