Mary Ann Blumer

Mary Ann Blumer, age 84, passed away peacefully at her home in Albert Lea on Sunday, November 26, 2017. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 17 at First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea. Reverend Dwight Netzer will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery, Albert Lea, at a later date. Bonnerup Funeral Service is handling the arrangements.

Mary Ann Blumer (nee Redmond) was born March 30, 1933 in New Brighton, PA. She was raised in Chippewa Township, a suburb of Beaver Falls, PA, by her mother Betty Simon Redmond and beloved adoptive father Clyde Redmond. Mary Ann attended Chippewa Elementary School through eighth grade, and graduated from Beaver Falls High School. She graduated from Providence Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse. At her nursing position at Butka Medical Center in Alhambra, CA, Mary Ann met her future husband Dr. Arlo Blumer. They were married on March 3, 1956. Arlo had been drafted into the U.S. Army and the young couple was stationed at a communications base near Asmara, Eritrea. There they welcomed their first of six children. Upon returning to the States, Arlo and Mary Ann chose Albert Lea, MN to establish Arlo’s medical practice and raise their family.

Mary Ann was a member of the Medical Auxiliary and Hospital Auxiliary; held the office of president of PEO Chapter BK and several other offices and was proudly celebrating her 48th year of membership. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church at which she served as an Elder and Visiting Deacon. She was an Albert Lea Art Center volunteer, co-chair of the Vision and Hearing Screening Clinic for 4 year olds, and co-chair in starting Rheumatoid Arthritis self-help classes.

Mary Ann and Arlo enjoyed dancing, especially with the Star Dusters Dance Club; attending Civic Music concerts and Albert Lea Community Theater productions; traveling with their children on summer vacations touching all 48 contiguous states and Canada over the years. When their children were grown, Arlo and Mary Ann spent 22 winters in Pharr, TX. They also traveled a great deal both in the United States and abroad with family and cherished friends making many wonderful memories.

Still surviving is Arlo, her beloved husband of 62 ¾ years; her six precious children and their families- Jody Blumer and sons Lucas and William Ramsey, Karen and Mark Smed and children Annika and Alik, John and Jennifer and children Holland, Samuel, and Eleanor, Barbara and Tom Corcoran, Elizabeth and Rick Hafer and children Alayna Sigurdson and Weston Hafer, and Paul and Terri and son Andrew. Also surviving Mary Ann are two half-brothers, Jeff Redmond and Robert Sokol; two sisters-in-law, Marileen Blumer and Darlene Munter; brother-in-law, Robert Enck; special cousins Patty, Margaret, and Sonny; dear nieces and nephews; beloved friends; as well as her loving care givers and hospice staff.

Preceding her in death are her mother, Betty; adoptive father, Clyde; grandparents; father, Andrew Sokol and his very special wife Evelyn; half-sister Bev; three step-brothers, Jim, Ralph, and Clyde Jr.; uncles, Andy, Steve, and Joe; and dear Aunt Jenny.

Memorials preferred to First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea, MN; PEO Chapter BK; the Naeve Alumni and Nurses Club Scholarship Fund; or Mayo Hospice program in Albert Lea.