REFLECTIONS

“Isn’t that something?”

This was a favorite phrase coined by longtime Blooming Prairie area resident and banker Ken Trom. Sadly, I must accept the fact that he has passed on to a place reserved for him. He was 88.

When Judy and I returned to Blooming Prairie nine years ago, Ken and Gloria were really the first couple that we met at First Lutheran Church services.

Ken always wore that infectious smile, one that was punctuated by a sincere greeting, something like this, “Hello, Lestruds.”

Ken was a Korean War veteran and proud of it. Somehow, I learned that Ken loved to play the harmonica.

Since I had begun to do feature stories on Blooming Prairie personalities, I asked Ken if I could interview him for an article in the Steele County Times. He agreed, and we met in a conference room at First Lutheran Church. He brought along his favorite harmonica, one that measured about six inches in length.

He played a few short tunes for me, and then he began to talk about the history of Ken Trom and his harmonicas.

Entertained the troops

Ken picked up this hobby when he was a young lad. He loved to play at church and community functions.

His real love was to play for the troops in Korea. Ken said he believed he “lifted the spirits” of some of the troops. He also was very willing to give lessons to some of his barracks mates.

I filed the story on Ken, and it appeared as a full page in the Steele County Times. Ken was very appreciative. He turned bashful when friends said they did not know he played the harmonica. I even received an award from the National Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for the story I penned on Ken.

Ken was recently scheduled to play the harmonica at a First Lutheran Church service. He cancelled out because of health reasons. Church members were hopeful that Ken would return to good health and be able to play the harmonica in public once again.

Ken often carried a harmonica with him. If he was encouraged enough, he would open the pocket of his suit coat and pull out a harmonica that definitely looked like it had accompanied Ken to many spontaneous appearances.

A true patriot

Patriotism was Ken’s middle name. He participated in many Blooming Prairie Service Men’s events and served many years on the Servicemen’s Club board of directors.

Ken proudly recruited men and women to serve in the Blooming Prairie Honor Guard. I was very grateful for Ken’s invitation to join the group.

Ken and the late Burt Knutson were Honor Guard callers, contacting all members and reminding them of a military funeral that was coming up. “Howard, this is Ken Trom . . .”

Ken loved every chance he had to wear his Blooming Prairie Honor Guard colors. He participated in hundreds of ceremonial military rites for service men and women who passed on.

It was Ken’s duty to present the American flag to family of a veteran who had died. Ken offered words of thanks to the family of the veteran who had served. The words may have been the same every time a flag was presented, but the delivery was different, each time glowing with pride as he presented the flag.

Following Ken’s funeral service on Sept.18 at First Lutheran, members of the Honor Guard provided a proper farewell for Ken’s final departure.

Community volunteer

Ken loved youth and was involved in many youth events. He was a leader in finding applicants for American Legion and VFW scholarships.

I was privileged to have served on a committee with Ken that met to plan an exhibit on the American Legion’s 100th anniversary for the Steele County Historical Society. Ken was a natural historian, often reciting historical events without the help of notes.

The Troms, for many years operated a green house in Mower County, and Ken was very involved in Mower County public events. He served on the Mower County Fair Board for many years. Ken was named Mower County Fair Person of the Year in 2011.

Ken received the Ground Breaker award for the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. Tim Penny, president of SMIF, attended Ken’s funeral.

Memorials were preferred to the First Lutheran Church, to the Blossoming Community Foundation, and to the Westfield Lutheran Church.

Discussing the new Blooming Prairie High School structures, Ken could only reply: “Isn’t that something?”

Ken indeed was something.