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Duane Bloom, 76, died December 7, 2009. Duane was born September 1, 1933, in Shafer, MN, to Byron and Muriel Bloom. He received his B.S. in Geological Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Duane married the love of his life, Betty, in 1956. Duane served as a helicopter pilot in the United States Navy, achieving the rank of Lieutenant. After his service, Duane continued his studies at Colorado School of Mines where he received a D.Sc. in Geochemistry. Duane was one of the founders of Earth Sciences Inc, which developed the Sherman Mine in Leadville, CO and the El Plomo Mine in Colorado's San Luis Valley. On ESI business, Duane also pursued projects in Montana, Canada, and California. Duane co-developed and implemented the Petrex system, a geochemical hydrocarbon prospecting technique. He was very involved in the Golden community. For 37 years, Duane was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, where he served as president and sang in the choir, and Duane and Betty regularly attended the Central City Opera. Duane also maintained ties to Minnesota, where he developed dairy, soybean, hay, and maple syrup operations at the Bloom family farm, affectionately known to his friends and family as THE Farm.

Duane was preceded in death by his father, Byron Bloom and daughter, Sandra Bloom.

He is survived by his mother, Muriel Bloom; his wife of 53 years, Betty; his two brothers, Byron (Kathy) and William (Carol); his four children, Daniel (Carla) Bloom, Beth (Scott) Bugosh, David Bloom and Nelson Bloom; his eight grandchildren Danielle (Fred) Soliz, Matthew (Rosie) Fair, Daniel Bloom, Ariel (Chris) Boswell, Michael and AnnaMarie Bugosh, Leo Anderson, and Bryce Bloom; and his three great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Victoria Fair and Elijah Soliz.

A memorial service was December 11, 2009 at Faith Lutheran Church, in Colorado. Duane will always be remembered for his ever-present smile, twinkle in his eye, his gentle, welcoming kindness, and adventurous spirit.

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