In Memory Of
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JoLene Rae Bloom
Seneca, Kansas
04/07/1951 - 06/14/2025
JoLene Rae Bloom, 74, retired Seneca educator and NEA union member, died in Topeka, Kansas at Plaza West; She was born in Clarinda, Iowa on April 7, 1951 the daughter of Earl and Frances Ray Bloom Jr. and had lived in Nemaha County, Kansas since age 2.
JoLene attended Kansas University in 1969-1971 after graduating with honors from Centralia High School and earning the Wanda May Vinson KAY Scholarship in 1969 for serving others in her school and community and demonstrating leadership. She received a BA in English with teaching credentials from Washburn University in 1973 and finished her MS in special education of students with emotional disorders at KSU in 1978. In 1974, like her mother, brother, and sister, she joined the Kansas teaching ranks.
JoLene was an active advocate in the educational community; she taught secondary English and/or Spanish for 33 years at Highland Park HS, Topeka, and Seneca—NVJHS/HS, as well as off-campus writing, literature, and communications for Highland Community College in Marshall and Nemaha County schools for 27 years. At USD #442, she was a state champs and third place winning coach with scholars’ bowl students and was one of the longest serving Kansas Association for Youth sponsors for 32 years. She assisted many KAYS in winning Wanda May Vison scholarships, offered by the KSHSAA. She was a drill team coach, student council advisor, a school newspaper and yearbook advisor, and a member of various committees for school improvement. At the State level, she served the KSDE on the certification committee for six years and the standards committee for foreign language for three years.
She was named NV’s Teacher of the Year in 1980 and 1996 and won the Master Teacher Award from ESU in 1987. She was awarded the Kansas National Education Association’s Epperson Peters Award in 1991 for protecting employee rights to use personal leave for lobbying the US Congress; she also won a suit against the local board in regard to placement of employees on the salary schedule for service and education factors. She negotiated for the local district for 26 years in addition to helping bargaining teams in BV-Randolph, B&B, and Midway-Denton with contracts. She served on five due process panels that determined proper dismissal, or not, of employees by BOEs in Marysville, Vermillion Valley, Midway, Effingham, and Beattie.
She served the teachers’ union in Seneca as president numerous years, was the chair of UD 7 and Konza UniServ for over ten years, was a state commissioner in negotiations, teacher rights, and public communications, negotiated KNEA staff contracts, interviewed and endorsed state, regional and local political hopefuls, was a representative to 25 state and 24 national representative assemblies and conventions, was a US Congressional lobbyist for six years, and represented local teachers in grievances of the administration in regard to contractual obligations. Bloom trained negotiating teams as well as local presidents and membership coordinators for the NEA.
In the community, JoLene was the UCC organist in Centralia from 1965-2003, served as a Bible school and a Girl Scout of America day camp volunteer as she was a 1967 God and Country recipient, the highest award in the GSA. She served as a mentor to badge and Eagle Scout seekers in the BSA.
JoLene was a founding member of the Seneca Arts Council and served as various officers who coordinated the annual Seneca Art Fair, financed summer theater productions, and provided funding for elementary school programs of drama and music. She served the Nemaha County Training Center as a board member for over 12 years, and in her multi-years’ presidency, she edited the center’s employee and policy handbooks and improved salaries for employees. She provided general training sessions for the Sabetha and Seneca staffs and volunteered for events such as the annual golf tournaments and ice cream socials.
JoLene served on the Kanza Mental Health Board, she was a member of the original City of Seneca Planning Committee and, later, the zoning board. She was the President of the Nemaha County Community Building Board. JoLene has been a lifetime precinct committee woman with the Democratic Party in Seneca and encouraged “Get Out and Vote” as well as “Meet the Candidate” events as the NVTA president and the County Democratic chair in the 1990’s and again in 2017-2020.
Her deceased parents are Frances Emma (Ray) and Earl Bloom, Jr. JoLene’s brother Dr. Danny Earl Bloom, Lawrence, passed in November of 2017; she is survived by his sons: Eric (Colleen) Bloom and son Beau and Dr. Nathan (Brook) Bloom and sons Liam, Owen, and Brady, Lawrence; her sister Marsha Kay (Bloom) and David Lee Walters as well as their children Roxanne Walters and her children Kylie and Brody; nephews Dustin and Jessica Walters and sons Max and Eli, all of Centralia, and Blake and Amber Walters and sons Crayton and Boston, Baldwin City; two great great nieces Haven and Halo; as well as her rescue felines:
Family and friends were important aspects of JoLene’s life: numerous cousins in the Armstrong, Ray, and Bloom branches of the family, including Dick, Jean, Ron, and Joan, traveling friends Judy Hoffman, Joe and Karen Benson, high school classmates Judy Clouse, Ruth Fraser, Jacque Lierz, friends Dr. Ann McBride, Pat Massie, Kate Ronnebaum, Dee Lizzol, Sharon Bailey, KNEA staff and members, former NVHS staff members and students including Peggy Peregrine, Donna Dodge, Rita Spellman, Dee Lintz,Mel and AMary Baker, early mentors Cindy Ayers, Harriet Winquist, Angie Stalcup, Katherine Bachman, and Joyce DeBord, and neighbors Bill and Joann Huerter, Lela Walters, and the friendly faces of neighborhood children.
JoLene found great pleasures in traveling, especially with family, playing bridge, reading, movies, gardening, photography, politics, individuals’ rights, baking, art, trivia competitions, and cats.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. at the Centralia Community Church (east building) with interment at the Centralia City Cemetery.
Memorials can be sent in care of the family with designations for the Centralia Bible School.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. at the Centralia Community Church (east building) with interment at the Centralia City Cemetery.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. at the Centralia Community Church (east building) with interment at the Centralia City Cemetery.
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Jolene will be missed by family and friends along with everyone she ever met. RIP Jolene
JoLene was a powerful and energetic force! She served as Treasurer on a board we’re both on – and oh man her reports were perfect to the penny and on time! JoLene was always sharing about Seneca and Nemaha County and our shared love of Kansas. And I tell you – she could take a boring meeting and make it way more fun. The first time I met her she handed me a piece of chocolate and welcomed me in, and she always made me feel good, even when talking politics! I will miss her lots.
Thank you JoLene for representing me on the due process hearing at Beattie.
JoLene was a teacher with grace, respect and morals. She genuinely cared about her students (even those of us who weren’t real easy to get through to). She never gave up on us and always lent words of encouragement. I learned to appreciate her wisdom as my life progressed. I was blessed to have known her. Rest in peace precious lady.
Deepest sympathy for your loss
JoLene treated the Centralia Bible School kids to ice-cream on our last day of VBS for several years! When The Scoop was open all the kids enjoyed the walk to get a cone or dish of ice-cream from JoLene! After The Scoop closed she continued to treat the kids for many years by buying ice cream sandwiches and popsicles from Haverkamp Grocery for all the kids. She not only gave us a special treat but she supported the local businesses. We appreciated the kind gesture and the cool treat on the hot summer day! Rest in peace JoLene and thank you for your support and encouraging words over the years.
One of my favorite teachers and one of the reasons I pursued an English Education degree. Thanks for all you did for several communities!
Sending Sympathy and Prayers to the family. I have so many great memories of times when we were all roaming the streets in Centralia! Blessings to all of you. Cheryl
I first met Jolene when my husband and I joined the Democrat party here in nemaha county. We found that she was a very nice lady and very knowledgeable about what she was talking about. She always cared about everyone. I always rode with her in the parades the 4th of July parade in Centralia and the nemaha county 4-H parade in Seneca. I will never forget this we always have such a great time and I would always have to tell her Jolene get in the middle of the road, Jolene go a little faster. Jolene I will miss being in the parade with you this year and the future. I will greatly miss you my dear friend, love you!
So sorry for the Walter’s family and JoLene’s friends..
-Fierce is a word that comes to mind describing JoLene. She fought, loved, educated, and believed fiercely with the biggest heart. She was so generous in her giving, whether it was bible school, her family , or the Democrats just to name a few.
Jo will always be a light in my world. I miss her!
Jolene was amazing. She was a teacher that made you feel accepted.
Her encouragement as my English teacher helped me become who I am today.
Always positive and always happy
I met Jolene when we were first year teachers at Nemaha Valley High School in 1974. I was the home economics teacher. She along with Donna Dodge, Dee Lintz, and Rita Spellman spent many hours playing games and having a great time together. Several of us including Jolene took a class at Highland Community College offered by KU. We would stop by the Maple Leaf Restaurant in Hiawatha and reserve our pie before class. And then stop by after class and have our supper and pie. Jolene was also a great pie maker. When we had get togethers after retirement she would ask us for our pie requests. As you know, Jolene was a passionate and energetic worker for her interests and would work endless hours. Very giving and ready to help. I’m honored to call her my dear friend. Jolene you will be missed. Thank you for your impact on many lives including mine.
Jolene was a unique, special member of the Kansas Democratic Party. It was through this membership that I had the privilege of working with her. Her warm smile and friendly greeting brought people toward her. Next, they would find her to be energetic and enthusiastic about the mission of Democratic work (advocating for others). She inspired everyone around her. During the discussion, she would challenge the process by asking ‘why not’ or ‘why we should,’ to ensure that we had considered every angle, aspect, impact, and perspective a decision had on the objective of the task. Her tenacity will be missed. We will do our best to carry the torch on, asking the hard questions in difficult times to find the correct answers in honor of our friend, guidance, and teaching, Jolene Bloom.
May she be at peace. May her family find comfort knowing others will not forget the positive impact she had on their lives.
JoLene was an incredible woman! So glad our paths crossed in a myriad of ways! You will be missed; never forgotten!
Jolene was on the faculty for nearly all my years as the counselor at Nemaha Valley High beginning in 1983, and she was always a wonderful and powerful force in the school. She cared deeply about the students and worked tirelessly for their benefit. As her obituary indicates, Jolene was also highly involved in a wide range of community activities, with the common theme of working to help others. I had many interesting and enjoyable conversations with her while we worked together, and considered her a trusted friend. I regret that I lost touch with her when I retired and moved away from Seneca, and now wish I had the opportunity to tell her how much admiration and respect I had for her and all her accomplishments. She was a fine woman.