Congratulations to our 2026 Grand Marshal:
Ron Blum
Stanton Old Fashioned Days is pleased to honor Ronald Blum as this year’s Grand Marshal. Anyone who knows Ron would say he is a kind-hearted man, committed to serving his community and country, and always wears a smile on his face.
Ron has been a part of the Stanton community for over 77 years. He spent his entire childhood here playing in town. He attended Central Montcalm High School and met some of his very best, life-long friends as well as his wife, Judy VanWagner. After graduation in 1968, Ron and Judy got married, planted roots here in town, raised their three children Jennifer, James, and Joylynn, and lived their entire marriage here in the town they knew and loved.
Ron’s passion for serving his community started as a Stanton Boy Scout. Surrounded by World War II veterans and the local Stanton men, he was deeply influenced to continue serving. Ron became an Eagle Scout, served overseas in Vietnam, was trained by the 75th Ranger Battalion at Fort Benning, joined the Army Reserves and Michigan National Guard, became an assistant Boy Scout leader, completed Medical First Responder training, and joined the Specialized Emergency Rescue Team.
Throughout his life, Ron’s jobs were also a testament to his service. He was a Stanton Department of Public Works employee, a part-time Stanton police officer, a Building Trades Instructor for the Department of Corrections, and he ran his own construction company. Ron’s knowledge of construction allowed him to help so many: he and his students partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build and donate cabinets to local families, he traveled with the youth group from the First Congregational Church to both New York and Tennessee to help repair homes for families, he worked with the city for planning and zoning, drew up plans for a new fire station, built new curbs for Stanton, remodeled and built many homes in town, assisted in hiring Stanton’s first City Manager and he’s been seen driving his dump truck during city-wide clean-ups.
When Ron finally retired from 20 years of service in the military and 25 years with the Department of Corrections, he found time to reflect. His wife, Judy, had saved nearly every letter, photo, and audio recording he had sent her from Vietnam. Ron re-read the letters and put his heart into writing his story, “Shattered Mirror,” in hopes that sharing his experience could help other veterans who may have shared similar experiences. Upon the release of his book, Ron has been moved to honor local veterans with Quilts of Honor.
Ron is honored to be named Stanton Old Fashioned Days Grand Marshal. He cherishes his memories of the classic cars, pancake breakfasts, soapbox derby contests, talent shows, marching in the parades, running 10 K’s, pine wood derby races… Ron looks forward to seeing the community come together to fill the streets, hear the hum of friendly conversations, laughter, and seeing all the events that will become treasured traditions for others as they have for him.
-Submitted by Ron’s daughters, Jennifer (Blum) Burns and Joylynn (Blum) Pegher