James C. Blomquist

He was born May 6, 1937, in Iron Mountain, son of the late Carl and Mabel (Lund) Blomquist. Jim graduated from Iron Mountain High School, class of 1955.

He married Bernadine “Bernie” Andreini in January of 1957. They moved to Champaign, Ill., where Jim attended the University of Illinois, receiving his master’s in architecture in 1960. After graduating from the University, he and Bernie moved to Green Bay, Wis., where he worked for an architectural firm for a few years. They moved back to Iron Mountain, where he founded Blomquist and Associates Architects. Later his son, Mark, joined the firm, and now the firm is in its third generation with his grandson, Kyle and his wife Megan.

For many years Jim served as a member of the National Council for the Architectural Registration Board and was awarded the Architectural Service Award for his participation. Jim was proud of his many local architectural projects in the area; some include the Carmelite Monastery, First Lutheran Church, ManorCare Health Services, Dickinson County Jail, First National Bank, the Menominee Range Historical Museum, Ford Airport and many others.

Jim was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and former member of Pine Grove Country Club, Chippewa Club and the Kiwanis Ski Club. 

Jim was an avid outdoorsman; in particular, he loved “The Ponderosa” camp on Sawyer Lake and “Achigan Lodge” in Canada.

Jim enjoyed the many memories he had at Thanksgiving and the tradition of the extended family get-togethers at The Ponderosa.

In his younger years, he was a ski jumper and attended the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. as a marker for the ski jumping event. 

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Bernie; three sons, Mark (Lisa) Blomquist, John (Cathy) Blomquist, and David Blomquist, all of Iron Mountain; one daughter, Jean (Michael) Constantini of Iron Mountain; one sister, Miriam Nordstrom; brothers and sisters-in-law, Francis and Pauline Brouillette and Larry and Julie Andreini; 12 grandchildren, Marcus Blomquist, Kyle (Megan) Blomquist, Jamie (Joe) Jahnke, Brody Blomquist, Tyler Blomquist, Carli (Nick) Mees, Austin Blomquist, Kristen (Brian) Chapman, Nick Pedo, Brad Blomquist, Alexander Blomquist, and Zoey Blomquist; and 11 great-grandchildren, Abel, Augie, Blake, Vivienne, Penelope, Eden, Kai, Arianna, Braxton, Scarlett and Nixon.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Paul Blomquist; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph and Beatrice Andreini, and two nephews, Joe Brouillette and Dan Andreini.

Private family visitation and funeral services will be held at Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. Msgr. James Kaczmarek will officiate.

Burial will take place in Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain.

The Blomquist family would like to thank the staff and director at ManorCare Health Services, Kingsford, for the excellent care they provided to Jim for the past few months.

You may leave a condolence or tribute for James’ family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.

The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Iron Mountain, to honor James’ legacy of life.