Alexander Christian Blom, Alexander Christian Blom, an 8th-grade student at Proctor’s Jedlicka Middle School, died peacefully at the Solvay Hospice House Friday morning, May 8, 2009, with his family by his side. He was 14.

Alex was born at St Luke’s Hospital in Duluth on September 20, 1994.  At age 2-1/2, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  He attended Caribou Lake and Pike Lake elementary schools. He never let cancer get in the way of doing the things he enjoyed.  He played soccer, hockey, basketball, football, golf and Little League baseball.  Alex had many friends.  He enjoyed traveling, especially the annual road trip out West to Wyoming and Montana, with the nightly Yahtzee tournaments and campfires.  He loved his 4- wheeler, enjoyed snowmobiling and plowing the driveway.  Alex began collecting model semi trucks at an early age and could identify every make and model out on the road.  His favorite trucks were the signature red Kenworths at Jeff Foster Trucking.  His pride and joy was his very own 1972 Ford F100 pickup, a 14th birthday present that his Dad hypothetically let him drive to Floodwood and back one day about two months ago.  Last summer, Alex created his own company, Alex Blom Lawn Care.  He was a pit crewman for his brother, Austin, and Blom Racing.  He loved watching his brother race every weekend.  He was a huge fan of the Minnesota Twins and a guest at their batting practice last September.  Alex enjoyed life to the fullest, had a great work ethic and a million-dollar smile.

Alex was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, James Blackburn, his Aunt Gillian Blackburn and the old family dog Cody.

He is survived and will be sadly missed by his parents, James Blom and Nanette Blom; sister Erin and brother Austin of Twig; paternal grandparents Oscar and Betty Blom of Alborn; maternal grandmother Kathleen Blackburn of Hermantown; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, his dogs, Buster and Moose, his classmates and best buds, Jacob and Jimmy.

Alex’s family wishes to thank the caring staff of Solvay Hospice House, Drs. Stephen Haines, Christopher Moertel and the staff at University of Minn. Medical Center, Drs. Jackie Wiermaa and Andrea Watson of SMDC/Duluth Clinic Pediatric Oncology, the Minnesota Twins, Proctor School District, and all who planned and participated in the Alex Blom Benefit at the Le Grand Supper Club in January.   It is hoped that each of you who knew Alex will carry on the spirit that defined his life.  In doing so, the world will become a better place.

A visitation was held Tuesday, May 12 in the Proctor School Gym followed by a program honoring Alex’s life in the Proctor School Auditorium.

Visitation will continue Thursday, May 14 from 12:00 Noon until the 1:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Raphael’s Church, 5779 Seville Road, Pike Lake. Burial will follow in New Independence Cemetery. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.