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In memory of

Gary Joseph Bloomberg

Rapid City, SD

May 15, 1927 - December 11, 2023

May 15, 1927 - Dec 11, 2023

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The legendary Gary “SuperQ” Bloomberg passed away peacefully on December 11, 2023 at 96 years of age. Gary was born on May 15,1927 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Romanian born Jewish immigrants Leo and Nellie Bloomberg (Wexler). Gary was the youngest of 4 siblings with two older brothers, Max and Marvin, and an older sister, Anne. While he was still an infant, the family moved to Huron, South Dakota where his father ran the local dry cleaners. Being an avid sports enthusiast, his father also made a name for himself in the upper Midwest as a boxing promoter through which Gary made his first newspaper debut as a child for delivering a knockout punch to world-renowned boxer Max Baer in an exhibition fight. When he was a young boy, his musical talent began to shine. After creating instruments out of whatever household items he could get his hands on, his father brought him home his first real instrument: a clarinet. With no one to teach him, Gary quickly taught himself and his natural inclination blossomed. At 9 years old, Gary was working at the local billiards room as a rack boy when Lawrence Welk got word of Gary’s talent and recruited him to travel and play with the band. At 9 years old Gary had locked in the passions that would drive the duration of his life: Music and billiards. In 1944, Gary chose to follow in his brothers’ footsteps and join the war effort. As a sailor in the Merchant Marines, he took on the ocean sailing through the South Pacific fighting for his country in World War II. While he was braving the Battle of Okinawa, his brothers were soldiers on mainland Europe where his brother Marvin lost his life in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, Gary continued to hone his musical skills and started to hone another that would add to his legacy: Billiards. Gary enlisted into the Army and was entered into active service December 31, 1948. He was honorably discharged August 18, of 1952 with a Medal of Honor. After his war days, Gary went back to Huron, SD where he met his first wife, Margaret and they had two children, Jeff and Mike. In 1962 Gary met the love of his life, Jeanne while managing The Inn in Huron, SD. They soon moved to Rapid City together and got married. They managed and owned bars and restaurants as well as a donut shop and a chicken drive-thru restaurant. They had two daughters, Timi and Gari Jo. In 1974 Gary and Jeannie decided to leave the hospitality industry, and pursue their passion for billiards and opened up Radak Billiards. Having a background in hospitality, Gary promoted and planted the seed for a new sport and past-time in Rapid City. Developing leagues, expert-level training, and a family-friendly environment, Gary made Rapid City an epicenter for billiards growth while also molding his daughters Timi and Gari Jo and son Mike into champion pool players. In 1987, Gary and Jeanne opened up The Eight Ball Express where they taught their grandson Shane Van Boening to play pool. He is now a world Champion. After Jeanne’s passing in 1994, Gary refocused on his musical passion and began playing his jazz music with bands around town, and at every opportunity he had. His talent, paired with his uniquely bold style and magnetic personality made Gary one of the most well-known people in the Rapid City area. He was an icon. Gary touched and enriched every life he came across, and truly was a blessing on this earth. We are thankful and grateful for the 96 years of wisdom, stories, lessons, and most of all, the music that he gave to everyone around him. He is joined in heaven by his mother Nellie, father Leo, sister Anne, brother Marvin, brother Max, and his loving wife Jeanne. He is survived by his sons Jeff and Mike, daughters Timi and Gari Jo, granddaughters Emily, Hana, Nellie, Alexa, Randi, Dani, Melissa, Zoe, and Natalie, grandsons Shane and Lane, many great-grandchildren, and countless wonderful friends.

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