Dec. 10, 2023
Peter Kim Flottum, 1947 - 2023
It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Kim Flottum, a cherished friend, esteemed cohost, devoted husband, and father. After a courageous battle with cancer, Kim left us, leaving behind a legacy enriched with kindness, passion for beekeeping, and a deep love for nature, particularly his garden.
Kim's presence was a beacon of positivity; he was one of those rare individuals who seldom spoke ill of anything, finding joy in his work with bees and people alike. I had the privilege of working alongside him since my first article for 'Gleanings in Bee Culture' in February 1991, an experience filled with learning, camaraderie, and shared enthusiasm for beekeeping.
In honor of Kim’s remarkable life and his profound impact on the beekeeping community, we will be releasing a special celebration podcast episode of Kim’s Life with Bees. It will be a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated so much of himself to the world of bees and the people who care for them.
During this difficult time, our thoughts are with Kim’s wife Kathy and daughter, Jess. We stand together in mourning and in celebration of a life extraordinarily well-lived, marked by kindness, wisdom, and an unwavering passion for the natural world. Kim’s legacy will continue to inspire and guide us in the years to come.
Cohost, Producer, Editor & Audio Engineer... Chief Cook, Bottle Washer, Errand Boy
While in 6th grade, Jeff’s interest in all things flying and crawling turned to honeybees. He enlisted his father’s help to buy an A.I. Root observation hive. Jeff’s honeybees resided on his second-floor bedroom desk in Lakewood, Ohio. He spent much of that boyhood summer enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of the observation hive. After buying his own home Hinckley, Ohio as an adult, he picked up on his interest in beekeeping. He purchased three colonies from a retiring beekeeper and his interest continued to grow.
Jeff grew his operation from a hobbyist into a small sideliner business selling honey and beeswax and providing local pollination services. He joined the Medina County Beekeepers Association and the Ohio State Beekeeper’s Association so he could continue to learn from others in the business. Jeff was president of the Medina organization and was a director of the Ohio association. He also created Medina County’s first newsletter: The Bee Herder.
While active with the Ohio beekeepers’ organizations, Jeff met the editor of Bee Culture magazine, Kim Flottum. Kim recruited Jeff and they created a regular column called the Weekender. The column provided practical advice for hobbyist beekeepers. Kim invited Jeff to attend the annual American Beekeeping Federation conference in Kansas City. While there, Kim introduced Jeff to Sherry Jennings, an executive with the National Honey Board in Longmont, Colorado. Sherry and Jeff are married.
Jeff relocated to Colorado to be with Sherry. He reestablished his beekeeping operation there and kept…
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