Bolte, Robert William 1921-2016

BOLTE, BLIESMER, MENSINGER, RODRIGUEZ, BIGWOOD, WALKUP, FRALEY, SCHMIDT

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer
Date: 10/13/2016 at 14:23:16

Robert William Bolte, 95, of Camanche, died Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at his home. Services will be held at Noon, Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the 1st Baptist Church, Camanche. Visitation will be held from 9AM until the service time Saturday at the church. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery, Camanche, where full Military honors will be conducted. Pallbearers will be Chad Bigwood, Ethan Bolte, Rodney Walkup, Oscar Rodriguez, Chris Cozzolino, Bernie Vogel and fellow USS AJAX member, Kenny Jackson. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren.

Robert was born May 18, 1921 in DeWitt, Iowa, the son of Carl and Louise (Bliesmer) Bolte. He attended the Clinton schools with the class of 1940 but received his degree in 1946 after being discharged from the U.S. Navy. Robert married his high school sweet heart Berniece Mensinger on June 21, 1943 at the 1st Baptist Church in Long Beach, CA.

After high school, Robert worked at the Iowa Wallpaper and Paint Store, Climax Engineering and was a machinist at Clinton Manufacturing (Fairbanks-Morris) in Camanche. He was also a machinist at ALCOA for more than 23 years, retiring in 1983.

He was a WWII, United States Navy Veteran, enlisting January 22, 1942 and discharged November 11, 1945, on Armistice Day.

He was a lifetime member of the Camanche VFW, was a member of the USS AJAX Navy Group and enjoyed his annual trips to his Navy reunions with his wife. He was on the second Honor Flight of the Quad Cities. He was a member of the Camanche Historical Society and the ALCOA Retiree’s Club. He had many hobbies including woodworking, gardening and repairing bicycles. He was very well known for his bread making. Most importantly, Robert enjoyed spending time with his family.

Robert accepted the Lord as his personal Savior in 1946 and followed his Lord in Baptism and joined the fellowship of believers at 1st Baptist Church in Camanche, where he was very active and served in many capacities.

Survivors include his wife, Berniece of Camanche; daughter, Christi (Oscar) Rodriguez of Camanche; son, Dan (Nancy) Bolte of Florence, Alabama; grandchildren, Ethan (Lisa) Bolte, Chad (Lori) Bigwood, Rachel (Rodney) Walkup and Chere Fraley; great-grandchildren, Keaton Bigwood, Kambren Bigwood, Michaela Walkup, Spencer Fraley, Christian Bolte, Daniel Walkup, Noah Bolte, Shane Fraley, Alayah Walkup, Halle Walkup, Sam Bolte and Schrader Fraley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Ruth Bolte Schmidt and daughter-in-law, Sally Bolte.

Memorials may be made to the 1st Baptist Church, Camanche.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Camanche Volunteer Fire Department for going above and beyond the call of duty.