Longtime Orland Park Resident Gary Blummer Remembered

Gary Blummer will be remembered for his uncanny knowledge of Orland Park history, his quiet demeanor and his willingness to help.

Blummer, age 63, died from complications of pulmonary fibrosis at Palos Community Hospital on April 2.

A longtime resident, Blummer moved to Orland Park as a child when he was four years old and lived in his childhood home in the original Orland Hills subdivision for 59 years. He was one of five children born to Pat and Marvin Blummer.

“I met Gary in 1974, shortly after I moved to Orland Park in ‘72,” said retired Orland Park Police Officer Tim McCarthy, owner of Paddy B’s Restaurant in Orland Park.

“When Gary moved here in 1953, Orland Park was a dust spot in south Cook County,” McCarthy said. “Gary was unique --- an original Orland Parker, a true Orland Park guy,” he said.

Blummer graduated from Carl Sandburg High School in 1967 and was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in Thailand from 1967 to 1969, reaching the rank of sergeant. Blummer drove trucks for the construction trade and worked for Lally Brothers, Frontier Construction and Oosterbaan Painting.

He was a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Reber-Tesmond Post #2604, along with his father and brothers. He was also an active member of the Orland Park Lions Club.

Lions Second Vice-President Steve Anton, a past district governor and former local president, met Blummer when the two joined the club 15 years ago.

“We came into the club at the same time,” Anton recalled. “Gary was a Lion at his best. He never wanted to hold an office. He just wanted to be a good, hard working Lion,” he said.

Blummer was the club’s “Lion Tamer,” being responsible for the club’s equipment.

“Gary didn’t want the accolades. He just wanted to do the work. He was an integral part of the inside of the club that no one sees --- the people who work behind the scenes. That is a real Lion,” Anton said.

The Blummer name in Orland Park is synonymous with community service as Blummer’s wife, Gail Blummer, is known for helping the current military and the area’s many veterans.

“I knew Gary before our involvement with the Lions Club, probably 20 to 25 years ago,” said fellow Lion Mike Carroll.

“Gary was a very modest, humble man who was very proud of all that Gail did --- helping the military, the veterans and being the ‘guardian angel’ for Orland Park’s Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts,” Carroll said.

Carroll recalled Blummer’s pride when his wife was named WGN Radio’s ‘Orland Park Hometown Hero’.

“When Gail was named hometown hero, Gary was thrilled. He was always happy when people recognized all that Gail does for the community,” Carroll said.

“Things happened because of Gary Blummer,” Anton said, adding “He never said he couldn’t do something. He will be remembered for a long, long time.”

“The beauty of Gary Blummer was that he was a great historian for Orland Park. It was always good to have Gary around during an argument about Orland Park history because he always knew what was where,” McCarthy said smiling.

“Gary had a great sense of ownership with Orland Park,” McCarthy said. “He placed a very high value on being a part of Orland Park when it was a small town,” he said.

“Gary Blummer was a mild mannered man who was more concerned with getting things done than who got the credit,” McCarthy said, adding, “I’m gonna miss the guy. I just love him. He was great.”

Blummer is survived by his wife of 35 years, Gail (Stronk) Blummer, their adult sons, Christopher and Jeffrey, his siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews and many friends.

Visitation is Friday, April 5 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Colonial Chapel, 15525 South 73rd Avenue in Orland Park. Blummer will lie in state on Saturday at Christ Lutheran Church, 14700 South 94th Avenue beginning at 10 a.m. until the service begins at 11 a.m. Interment will be private at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Disabled Patriot Fund or the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad.