Loretta Blohm

Loretta Mae Blohm, age 84, passed away on January 13th, 2010, at Parkview Manor in Reinbeck, IA, from complications of Alzheimer's. Loretta Mae Jans was born November 30, 1925, on a farm in Monroe Twp., Benton County, Iowa near Dysart, to Emil and Wilhelmina (Siemens) Jans. Loretta was the seventh daughter of the seventh daughter with seven sisters. The number seven was a recurring theme throughout her life. The Jans family totaled twelve children. In January of 1946, Loretta met John E Blohm Jr. on a blind date. She was working at that time as a telephone operator in Reinbeck and John, recently discharged from the Air Force where he served in World War II, was farming south of town. They were married on Loretta's birthday, November 30, 1947. They had four children; Robert, Rebecca, Thomas and Rita. They made Reinbeck their home, building two houses on the south side of town. John died on September 7, 1969. For the next few years, Loretta traveled extensively, and her family enjoyed photographs of her riding camels and elephants, crossing the Nile, and touring the ruins of Athens and Rome. She later moved to Rochester, Minnesota, and worked at a boutique in the Kahler Hotel. She often talked of seeing celebrities, musicians, governors, senators and dignitaries in the lobby of the Kahler Hotel. She lived there for 25 years, and while there, met her companion of several years, Lowell Johnson. They shared their lives until October 1, 2006 when Lowell passed away. Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Wilhelmina Jans, seven sisters: Anna Zielstorf, Edna Johnson, Nadine Anders, Evelyn Kaestner, Dorothy Boisen, Helen Johnson, and Eleanor Paulsen, and four brothers: Arthur Jans, Edward Jans, Melvin Jans and Dale Jans. She is survived by her four married children; Robert and Yvonne Blohm, Reinbeck, IA; Rebecca and Mark Vecchiarelli, Campbell, CA; Thomas and Jane Blohm, Reinbeck, IA: and Rita and Michael Paskow, Danville, CA. She had eight grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren: Leslie and Robert Michael and their children Mackenzie, Kaitlyn, Jacob, Cayden, Reese and Drake; John and Jessica Blohm and their children Dylinn and Kael; Kyle and Megan Blohm and their daughter Jada Kay; Nikki and David Graham and their children Kiah, Azia, Emre and Amai; Damon Vecchiarelli; Tyler and Melissa Blohm and their son Tyson; Justin Paskow and his daughter Gianna; and Larry Paskow.