To view a recording of Jerome's service click on: https://youtu.be/xbuxhW7PKmc

Jerome Blumhagen, 81, of Harvey died Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at the Baptist Health Care Center in Bismarck.

Visitation will be held at the Hertz Funeral Home of Harvey on Friday, September 3, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, September 4, at the First Lutheran Church of Harvey at 10:30 am.

Burial will be in the Sunnyside Cemetery of Harvey.

Jerome Benjamin Blumhagen, son of Benjamin and Marie (Ehrman) was born May 24, 1940 in Drake ND. He grew up southwest of Drake on the family farm.  He attended a one room country school, then high school in Drake, graduating in 1958.  He took up boxing as a school sport as well as accordion lessons. Jerome was baptized and confirmed in Drake and raised with a strong faith and belief in the Lord.

After high school, Jerome attended several agriculture short courses in Fargo and by correspondence. He farmed with his dad until 1962, then rented a small farm a few miles away.  He raised both dairy and beef cows.  In 1967 he bought a farm/ranch west of Harvey.

On June 25, 1976, Jerome married the love of his life, Sharon (Zander).  Jerome had an instant family with Sharon's three daughters, Andrea, Cindy, and Traci. It was a house full of girls, quite the change from growing up with only brothers.  Sharon and Jerome had two more children, Lara, and Brent.

Jerome and Sharon continued to farm and ranch until 1995. He then sold the dairy cattle and machinery, rented out the land, and took a job off the farm.  He worked various jobs, one of his favorites being Heringer Lumber in Anamoose.  It was in those years he was able to finally enjoy the pastimes of deer hunting and fishing.

In December of 2004, at the age of 64, Jerome had a debilitating stroke.  Even though doctors told him he would never walk or go home again, his stubborn German side prevailed.  He left the hospital two days before his self-set two-month goal. He loved to tell the story of how he went through a few pair of walker wheels in the many years he used it. He also continued to go for drives, get groceries and run errands. Even when he reached his therapy goals, he continued to push himself by getting a membership to the hospital fitness center, where he went a few times a week for his own self-prescribed therapy.  He made several work out buddies during this time.  To occupy his time, Jerome listened to polka music and enjoyed assembling and painting plastic model cars. He took great pride in showing them to everyone who stopped for a visit.

In August of 2009 Jerome and Sharon moved off the farm and into Harvey where they remained until 2019.  In February of that year, they moved to Prairie Pointe Assisted Living in Bismarck.  Jerome entered the Baptist Nursing Home in April 2020.  Despite the many falls and fractures, he continued to persevere and never lose the drive to continue to walk and be independent.  Jerome was known to push himself as much as he could in therapy. He finally resigned to an electric wheelchair, but not without a fight.  His strong will and determination to walk was unwavering.

Jerome loved to visit and talk. When they went somewhere he was one of the last to leave, making sure he talked to everyone, at least once.

Jerome was a member of First Lutheran Church, Harvey, Harvey Eagles Club, Harvey Jaycees, Wells County Weed Board, Wells County Fair Board, and Hillsdale Township Board.

Jerome is survived by his wife of 45 years, children, Andrea (Jay) Butler, Burnsville MN, Cindy (Alan) Leintz, Surrey ND, Traci (Ryan) Manchenton, Amarillo, TX, Lara (Jerry) Schuh, Harvey, Brent, Moorhead MN.  Brothers, Dwayne (Shirley) and Arlo (Karen) of Drake.  Grandchildren Samantha (Ryan) Kostelecky, Kayla (Colt) Lathrop, Mckenzie (Cody) Landphere, Allison (Bo) Putrah, Lauren Butler (Ismail Pathan), Hunter, Gavyn & Easton Schuh.  Greatgrandchildren Gwen Kostelecky and Judd Landphere.

Jerome is preceded in death by his parents and daughter in law Kandyce Blumhagen.