Ron Bohlken 1952-2010

BOHLKEN, BASSETT, PARKS, MORGAN

Posted By: Kathy Kurth Holtry
Date: 5/11/2010 at 06:16:20

Cedar Rapids Gazette May 11,2010

Ron Bohlken, 57, of Iowa City, died Saturday, May 8, 2010, at the Hospice Unit of Mercy, Iowa City, following an extended battle with melanoma. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Monticello, with interment in the St. John’s Cemetery. The Rev. Reed Stockman will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com

Surviving is his mother, Audrey Bohlken of Monticello; and his twin brother, Donald (Carmen) Bohlken of Indianola.

He was preceded in death by his father, Carl (Chuck) Bohlken; his sister, Beverly Bassett; and his nephew, Christopher Morgan.

Ron Bohlken was born on June 28, 1952, at the John McDonald Hospital in Monticello, Iowa. He was the son of Carl and Audrey Parks Bohlken. Ron graduated from Monticello Community Schools with the class of 1970. Ron received his Bachelor of General Studies and Master of Arts in Public Administration degrees from the University of Iowa in 1978 and 1981, respectively.

Ron’s employment history included work as an administrative assistant for the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board from 1981 to 1982; a business representative for the Iowa Public Professional and Maintenance Employees Local 2003 from 1982 to 1985; an account consultant II and business developer for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield from 1985 to 2004; an account executive for EBS/ Holmes Murphy from 2004 to 2007; and a patient account representative and clinical coordinator for University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics starting in 2007. He subsequently became fully retired due to disability resulting from cancer.

Ron was active in political and community affairs. He was chairman of the Johnson County Democratic Party from 1985 to 1988 and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta in 1988. Ron had been active in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, the Johnson County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Advisory Board and the Iowa City Committee on Community Needs.