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The Rev. Paul J. Blom of Georgetown, Texas passed away on June 5, 2023 at the age of 82. Paul was born January 19, 1941 in Green Bay, Wisconsin to the Rev. Axel Blom and Naomi Blom, née Hougaard. After graduating from Memorial High School, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Paul attended St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, where he played football and majored in History. He graduated in 1963. Although he considered being a high school coach, he instead enrolled at Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota.
After interning in Salinas, California and completing his MDiv, Paul was ordained by his father at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin on June 4, 1967. In the summer months following his ordination, Paul served as camp director at Shetek Lutheran Bible Camp (today called Shetek Lutheran Ministries). It was here that he met the camp nurse, Marie Buechele. They were married a year later.
Paul served calls at Bethel Lutheran Church, Cupertino, California, Calvary Lutheran Church, Del Mar, California, St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Lakewood, California, and Kinsmen Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas before being elected as the second Bishop of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. He served in that office for 16 years, being reelected twice, and providing leadership through the immediate aftermaths and recoveries of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, providing a unifying voice during the difficult and divisive negotiations of full communion with the Episcopal Church, and investing his own time and his synod’s resources to support ministries for children, youth, and young adults. In 2011, Paul was honored to receive the Tom Hunstad Award for Excellence in Children, Youth, and Family Ministries from the ELCA Youth Ministry Network for his support and advocacy for youth and young adult ministry in the ELCA.
After retiring to Georgetown in 2007, Paul continued pursuing his passion of life-long learning by teaching and participating in courses at Senior University. He was an avid sports fan, especially rooting for the Green Bay Packers, Houston Astros, and Texas Longhorns. He enjoyed reading mystery and suspense novels and volunteering at local charities like Georgetown Backpack Buddies.
Most importantly, Paul was a man who deeply understood the meaning and implications of God’s merciful grace for all of creation, which inspired in him a compassionate conviction to love and defend the forgotten, marginalized, and rejected. It also inspired in him a sense of humor that he deeply enjoyed sharing with all those around him.
Paul is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marie Blom, and his daughter, Sara Slaughter (Brad) of Cedar Park, Texas and son, Nathan Blom (Liza) of Parker, Colorado. He is also survived by his sister, Connie Blom of Edina, Minnesota and stepmother, Ruth Blom of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Paul’s greatest joy and deepest pride were his five grandchildren, Luke, Jacob, and Grace Slaughter and Abigail and Noah Blom, who he loved to cheer on from the sidelines both near and far.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 8, at 11:00 AM at Christ Lutheran Church, Georgetown, Texas. The service will also be live streamed on Youtube.
The family has expressed a desire to forego having clergy vest and process. There will be a reception following the service. Internment will take place privately
Paul requested that we sing the Christiansen arrangement of Beautiful Savior and anyone who wishes to participate in the choir and sing that anthem during the service is invited to email Pastor Drew Ingram and to come early at 10am to practice.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, Georgetown, Texas; Lutheran Disaster Response; or Live On Endowment Fund of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, ELCA.
We remember Paul's family and friends in our prayers and trust that the promise of the Resurrection is true and sure.
In Christ,
Bishop Sue Briner
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