Rev. Dr. Daniel R. Bloomquist, aged 90, joined his Savior in heaven at dawn on Sunday, August 9, 2026. He was born January 19, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois to Rudolph & Kathryn Bloomquist.

Dan was raised in an Augustana Lutheran household, with his father a pastor and his mother active in the church. He is survived by his two loving younger sisters, Rhoda and Miriam. He was raised with a balanced concern for both missions and social service, which was evident in his sustained interest in prison outreach combined with missionary work. Dan’s deepest hope and prayer was to receive the commendation from the Lord Jesus: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)

Dan attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis and graduated from Augsburg College summa cum laude. There he sang in the Augsburg College Choir which performed at the White House for President Eisenhower. Following Augsburg, Dan served in the United States Army for two years.

Dan then studied history at the University of California, Berkeley graduate school, but felt called to enroll at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. As part of his seminary training, Dan ministered to inmates in federal prison. He was subsequently ordained in the Lutheran Church of America.

Dan met his wife of 57 years, Karen, at his sister’s wedding where they were paired as bridesmaid and groomsman. Dan was smitten and immediately penned numerous letters to Karen. They were soon married. Their first call was to establish a new Lutheran congregation in Carson City, Nevada.

Soon after, they received a call to minister in Guyana, South America. Their term began just as the country gained independence. Dan pastored a 1000-person congregation and travelled into the interior accessible only by boats to preach and teach, while Karen led the church’s youth and women’s groups and taught Sunday School.

After three years in Guyana, Dan received a call to teach at the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute in Alberta. He served as professor, academic dean, choir director, and librarian, reorganizing the full library. They invested five life-giving years in Canada, bathed in Scripture and nourishing fellowship.

Dan was invited to teach at the Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle and the family moved to Washington in 1977. There, he was a Bible and Missions professor in addition to academic dean and interim choir director. He was renowned for his dynamic, detailed courses such as Daniel, Luke-Acts, Romans, Job, and the Minor Prophets. Outside of LBIS, Dan and Karen helped found Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church. Dan also earned his doctorate in Missiology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

In 1987, Dan and Karen were called to be missionaries in Singapore, flourishing during their 15 years of fruitful ministry. Dan served as a professor at Singapore’s two interdenominational seminaries–Trinity Theological College and Singapore Bible College with students from all over Asia. In addition to teaching and preaching the Bible, Dan was a true Renaissance man–musician, athlete, author, stamp collector and lover of nature. He was an avid tennis player who won regional championships in Alberta and the Pacific Northwest. His passion for music resulted in directing and singing in numerous choirs, including the Master Chorus Eastside. Dan also delighted in birdwatching around the world, hiking in mountains, and fishing expeditions in the wilds.

Dan and Karen retired to the Seattle area where Dan authored The Bible: God’s Rescue Plan for the Human Race. In 2016, they moved to Windsor Park, Illinois to be near their daughter and 3 youngest grandchildren.

Dan was preceded in death by his wife, Karen, of almost 57 years of marriage. He is survived by his children Erik Bloomquist, Rolf (Pamella) Bloomquist, & Elizabeth (Michael) Urton; his grandchildren: Björn, Britta, & Annika Bloomquist and Sophia, Andrew, & Matthias Urton. Also survived by his sisters Rhoda (the late Thomas) McLaughlin & Miriam (Otis) Kline and sisters-in-law Joanne (the late Gerald) Cornelius & Dorothy (Thomas) Muscalino; and nieces Kathy, Jenny, Michelle, Katie and Kristi; nephews Randy and Jonathan.

Interment with military honors was held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois. A memorial service will be held at Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church, 277 Hawthorne Boulevard, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. The service will be livestreamed. A luncheon for all will follow in the Church Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers memorials to World Mission Prayer League, 232 Clifton Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403.