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John Lewis Belensky Bloom April 9, 1936 - February 26, 2026 John Lewis Belensky Bloom, 89, of Shadyside, Ohio, passed away on February 26, 2026. Born in Moundsville, West Virginia, on April 9, 1936, he was the only child of Dorothy Ann (Ruschak) and John Belensky. John graduated from Shadyside High School in 1954, where he was a standout center and co- captain of the football team, helping lead the squad to an undefeated season during his senior year – the first of only three undefeated seasons in the school’s history. He briefly attended Tri- State College in Angola, Indiana, to study Civil Engineering. John was a decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps, a service he carried with honor throughout his life. He spent many dedicated years as an employee of the International Harvester Company Stamping Plant in Shadyside, Ohio, where he was known as a hardworking and dependable man, with a special gift for steel buying and transportation logistics. A longtime member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in St. Clairsville, Ohio, John’s faith was the defining pillar of his life. He was a serious and devoted student of the Bible and the teachings of his church, spending countless hours in study and reflection. He relished sharing his faith with others and took great joy in introducing people to the teachings he held so dear. With a generous and caring spirit, he was always ready to help those in need and offer spiritual encouragement to anyone who was struggling. He cherished the bonds of his congregation, particularly his longtime friendships with Sam and Barb Elliott and Gary and Nancy Carpenter, among many other dear friends. In his leisure time, John was an enthusiastic lover of classic Hollywood Westerns - the films and serials of the Golden Age of Hollywood. He had a special fondness for the iconic cowboys of the silver screen, including Gene Autry (the “Singing Cowboy”), Roy Rogers (“King of the Cowboys”), Tex Ritter, Clayton Moore (the “Lone Ranger”), Tom Mix, William Boyd (“Hopalong Cassidy”), and the legendary John Wayne. He also had a deep passion for reading, particularly military history, with a special interest in the Civil War. Those who had the pleasure of visiting with John knew that a hot cup of coffee was never far away. He had a cherished habit of serving coffee to anyone he sat down with, turning every conversation into a moment of genuine hospitality and connection. John is survived by his three sons: Mark Gregory Bloom (Rebecca Kuprowicz) of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania; Scott Preston Bloom of Shadyside, Ohio; and Douglas Vance Bloom (Kathleen Mabry Bloom) of Knoxville, Tennessee. He is also lovingly remembered by his four grandchildren: Lauren Bloom and Emily Bloom, children of Scott; and Aidan Mabry Bloom and Audrey Mabry Bloom, children of Douglas. He was preceded in death by his doting grandparents (George and Mary Ruschak); his parents; his stepfather, George Bloom; his beloved Aunt June and Uncle Henry Pertican and Aunt Helen and Uncle Herb Ruble; and his Uncle George Ruschak, Jr., a US Army veteran of WWII. Those who knew John will remember him as a man of deep conviction, quiet strength, and a generous heart - always willing to lend a hand, offer a kind word, pour a cup of coffee (or request that a visitor bring two cups from McDonald’s), or share the hope that sustained him throughout his life. We take comfort in the promises he himself believed so deeply: “The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.” - John 5:28-29 “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:4 John’s cremains were spread in the forest near his childhood home in Fort Pitt, Ohio, by his eldest son Mark and his close friend, Sam Elliott. John’s Family and Friends want to thank the Staff of Grisell Funeral Home, Bellaire, Ohio, for handling all of the final arrangements. Sympathy expressions at www.grisellfuneralhomes.com