William Russell "Bill" Blum, age 66, of Crawfordsville, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at the University of Iowa Hospital following a short illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 5, 2016 at the United Church of Crawfordsville with Pastor Jason Collier officiating. Calling hours will begin noon Sunday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington where the family will receive friends from 3:00 until 5:00 Sunday evening. Interment will take place at the West Chester Cemetery in West Chester, Iowa. A general memorial has been established. Online condolences may be sent for Bill's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Bill was born May 4, 1950 in Washington, Iowa, the son of Marion and Marjorie (Martin) Blum. He attended Pilotburg Country School and graduated from Mid Prairie High School. Bill was united in marriage to Michel "Mickey" Smith on July 26, 1969 in Wellman, Iowa.

Bill has been a resident of Crawfordsville since 1978. He was a truck driver for JWV Pork and a breeder and raiser of rabbits. He was the President of the Iowa Flemish Giant Rabbit Breeders Association and a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association and the Iowa Rabbit Breeders Association. Bill mentored many people in breeding and raising rabbits. He and Mickey were Superintendents of the rabbit department at the Washington County Fair and judged for many other county fairs.

Bill was a Fire Department Trustee in Crawford Township and the Crawfordsville Representative for the Washington County 911 Board. He loved to deer hunt.

He is survived by his wife, Mickey Blum of Crawfordsville, Iowa; daughter, Ruchel Hiller and husband Don of Crawfordsville, Iowa; daughter, Leslie Duvall and husband Nicholas of West Chester, Iowa; five grandchildren: Darren, Grace, Isabelle, Quincy and Pierce; brother, Danny Rickerd and wife Nancy of Lone Tree, Iowa; sister, Nancy Baker of Woodbine, Iowa; brother, Terry Blum and wife Danette of Wellman, Iowa; sister-in-law, Jackie Riesberg and husband Alvin of Carroll, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; and his faithful dog, Jack.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Raymona Smith; sister, Jackie Blum; brother, Robert Blum; and brother-in-law, Dwight Baker.