Dr. William Louis Bloom

Dr. William Louis Bloom, retired professor of Biology from The University of Kansas, died peacefully September 16, 2025, at the age of 85 at Neuvant House in Lawrence, KS.

Bill was born March 29, 1940, in Bismarck, ND to Byron Bloom and Muriel (Ńee Nelson) Bloom. His family moved to Minnesota when he was a toddler, and in 1963 he married his high school sweetheart, Carol French, in St. Paul. They recently celebrated their 62nd anniversary on September 8.

Bill earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees at the University of Minnesota and his Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles. Following graduation, he completed a two-year research fellowship before coming to KU where he taught and conducted research in the area of genetics.

Upon retirement, Bill continued to engage in his many hobbies, including photography, fishing, upland bird hunting, archery, raising German Shorthaired Pointers and managing the 95 acres he lived on and loved.

Even after death Bill kept giving. He donated his body to KU Medical Center for research purposes and his brain to Mayo Clinic for specific research into Parkinson’s Disease.

In addition to his wife Carol, Bill is survived by sisters-in law Kathleen Bloom, Betty Bloom, Yvonne Ooten (Homer) and brother-in-law Kenneth French (Mary), and by numerous nieces, nephews and many friends in KS, MN, FL, and CO. He was preceded in death by his parents and three elder brothers: Byron Jr., Duane and James. No formal services are planned; however, a celebration of his life will be held later.

The family would like to thank Neuvant House and Ascend Hospice for their loving, respectful care and suggests memorials in Bill’s name be sent to the Lawrence Parkinson’s Support Group in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 West 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.