Denise Bloomquist

Denise Marie Bloomquist loved the pursuit of a challenge and welcomed it. She welcomed her next challenge in partnership with God on August 4, 2021. She left knowing that she had created a community to carry on her legacy. Denise was born on August 26, 1954 in Des Moines, Iowa to Gerald and Lena Bloomquist. After graduating from high school, she became a proud Hawkeye at the University of Iowa earning a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies. She then packed up her car and moved to Texas to earn a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology at Texas Christian University and fulfill her calling as a minister. Later, Denise embraced her love of governmental service and earned a Master of Public Administration from Angelo State University. They say the sum of one’s life is the mark they leave upon the world and Denise left a permanent mark that will never be erased. From her ministry at Central Christian Church in Comanche, First Christian Church in San Angelo, the Churches of Christ in Leicester, England and First Christian Church in Mertzon to her grant-writing and work with Project Janus, Inc, Denise gave her heart to build and strengthen her community. She brought the concepts of Stephen Ministry, Adult Day Care, School-To-Work, Summer Jobs for Youth, and Trauma-Informed Care to the Concho Valley and her grant writing efforts raised over $20 million dollars. Denise worked to create and build the Adult Day Care of San Angelo in memory of Mary Elizabeth Buttery. She then utilized those skills to serve as the liaison between the MHMR Board and contractor in renovating the MHMR Services of the Concho Valley building on Beauregard. She also supported her community through her work with State Representatives Junell and Campbell, if you had a problem, she was ‘on it’ and she would never give up until the problem was solved. She loved her Howard College and Angelo State University students and was always willing to provide advice and find support. She hoped to teach them a sense of civic responsibility; the true nature of the governmental process; and the difference between an academic source and a Facebook post. She was so many things to so many people: mom, grandma, sister, aunt, minister, House of Representatives District Manager, grant writer, construction project manager, radio host, college professor, amateur bowler, campaign manager, mentor, and friend. Denise enjoyed all of her jobs, but the jobs she enjoyed the most were being a grandmother, mother, friend, and cat-rescuer. She is survived by her son Ian Robinett and wife Roxie, granddaughter Lillian Robinett, brother Bill Bloomquist and wife Vicki, niece Alison Bloomquist and wife Jen Buyske and children Erik, Will, and Ryan, nephew Eric Bloomquist and girlfriend Hallie Cohen, and special aunts, uncles, and cousins. Denise believed that a family was made of the people who supported you and she was proud to belong to so many extended families. She is survived by members of her chosen family Mary Lackey, Pat Hines, Jack & Denise Barbour, Carl & Jerry Ann Butters, Dr. Cynthia Lackey, Jeff, Lori, Georgia, & Jackson Chandler, Angie, Gus, & Presley Reisner, Matthew McCone, Larisa Schoenhals, Ana Leyva, special neighbors, the rescue cats she lovingly called the Monroes, her First Christian Church family, her Foster Communications family, her political circle that always included members of both parties, her academic family, and her longtime friends and colleagues. She was preceded in death by her father Jerry, her mother Lena, her grandparents, her chosen son, Jeremy Lackey, her chosen family, John Hines, and her mentors Col. Edwin Buttery, Dick Burnett, and JoAnne Powell. Denise was moved by the simplest of joys, especially the random moments of silliness of being the crazy, goofy grandma with Lillian. Their unpredictable adventures were her cherished memories. In all that she accomplished, no moment was ever seen as an inconvenience, especially when it meant extending a helping hand. Many of her contributions were anonymous so it is safe to assume that if you are living and working in the Concho Valley, Denise has done something for you or your organization. She always showed up for those she loved in their times of need and celebrations. Her love for her extended family that she endearingly referred to as ‘the pack’ was unbreakable and unending. Contentment filled her days and kindness ruled her heart, yet she was never one to miss the opportunity to provide levity with a little snark. She was always willing to provide advice and never one to say I told you so, but oh you knew anyway. She had a fine-tuned malarky meter and knew that eventually others would see what she could see all along. She loved nothing more than giving and took such joy in finding gifts for others. She loved picking out music boxes for Lillian’s birthday, the perfect baby gift for her new great-niece, creative, imaginative gifts for her great-nephews, creative ways to send money to her niece and nephew, quirky gifts for her brother and sister-in-law, a year of lunches for Larisa for Christmas, the perfect gift baskets and surprise balls for Roxie, Lillian, and Ian, experiences for her family, girly gifts for Presley, daffodils for Vicki, tastes of Texas for Carl and Jerry, a room in a fully booked dorm for 2 boys who didn’t pay attention to deadlines, and the special poems and bookmarks for her church family. But, her favorite gifts to give were the jokes and mischievous gifts like the Mexican Pizza and Hippos she shared with her father, Whack-A-Mole during campaign season, a magic eight ball for Judge Junell’s tough decisions, a Doc McStuffins doctor kit for Cynthia’s graduation, a pack of Rolos for someone needing to watch their words in a meeting, government papers for Angie, Jeff, and Jeremy, the three stooges gifts, the nun collection, and the countless, unmentionable family jokes that appeared at the most unexpected times and under the Christmas tree. Denise left us as suddenly as she took on new challenges, so God must have needed the master of all trades for a special assignment. We will celebrate her life on Monday, August 9, 2021 at Lawnhaven Memorial Garden at 2:00 pm under the direction of Harper’s Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Project Janus, Inc. through the United Way or the First Christian Church in Mertzon, Texas.