Arley Bloom

Arley G. "Ben" Bloom, 85, of Ottawa, IL, died Friday, June 24, 2011 at Ottawa Regional Hospital and Healthcare Center. Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM Wednesday at Ottawa Funeral Home, with the Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park with Military Services. Visitation will be from 4 - 7 pm Tuesday, June 28 at Ottawa Funeral Home. Ben was born March 4, 1926, in LaSalle, IL to Charles and Etta (Long) Bloom. He married Jane Gende on January 22, 1949 at St. Roch's in LaSalle. Ben served in the US Navy in the pacific during WWII. He retired from Union Carbide. He was a member of the American Legion Post 33, the VFW, the Military Honor Guard, and he was a volunteer for the Starved Rock Visitor Center and Reddick's Library. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Cathy (Michael) Leslie of Oswego; two sons, James of Ottawa and Joseph of Joliet; two grandchildren, Kimberly Leslie of Yorkville and Scott (Jeanne) Leslie of North Aurora; three great-grandchildren, Jack Budde, Ben Leslie and Isabelle Leslie. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ernest Tanton. Pallbearers will be Jim Bloom, Joe Bloom, Jack Budde, Cathy Leslie, Mike Leslie, Scott Leslie and Ben Leslie.