Ralph Bohlin(1917-2019)

BOHLIN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/26/2019 at 18:43:16

CORALVILLE - Ralph Bohlin passed away February 22, 2019 at the age of 101 after a long period of declining health. Ralph was born in Toledo, Ohio, March 11, 1917 to Charles and Adele Bohlin. The loss of his mother when he was only two affected him deeply. Luckily, he had a good grandmother while growing up in Michigan City, Indiana, where he especially remembered growing trees, growing celery, gardening and caddying, at which time he learned and honed his later championship golf skills. He also learned basic hunting skills which later developed into Olympic level riffelry and valuable marksmanship talent to contribute to the WWII effort.

In the late 1930's he moved to Iowa City to attend U of I where he completed a B.A. degree in Political Science, hoping to continue to a law degree. While a the U of I he contributed greatly to the Varsity Golf and Rifle Teams. (He also remembered working odd jobs at the U of I to earn tuition and rent including painting with gold paint on the top of the "quite" high dome of the "Old Capital" a the U of I and for only a $25 payment for this courageous work! Ralph was also in ROTC and graduated from Office Training. He later won many amateur golf trophies, some even at the national level and was an avid pheasant hunter.

Most importantly while at U of I he met his future wife, Zilphy (pron. Zelpha) Hummer of Keswick, IA. They met while both were working at Woolworth's during summer break from classes. On a blistering hot summer day (before A/C), she brought him an ice cold Coke, which also became the start of their courtship and eventual life together. Within months after they were married in 1941, Ralph shipped out to where he served honorably in the Army Air Corps, (precursor of the U. S. Air Force) during WWII primarily in the Aleutian Islands. After the war Ralph faithfully supported his family as an independent private painting contractor, specializing in interior and exterior decoration, and owning his own company. While Ralph was in Alaska during WWII, Zilphy taught all grades at the small Tiffin, IA school. Later she taught second grade most of her career at Coralville Central School. Both children attended school there just a few blocks from the family home they had bought new in 1952 and finished themselves. Amazingly, Zilphy completed her B.A. at the University of Iowa in teaching in 1961, while actually teaching full-time.

Both children also got their undergraduate degrees for UI, graduating with Highest Distinction. In her later years, Ella Hummer, Zilphy's mother lived with Ralph and Zilphy.

In their later years Ralph and Zilphy enjoyed traveling to Europe, the U.S National Parks and their children's homes around the country.

Most of their life together, they weekly dined out with and played bridge with their close friends and relatives. Each winter they traveled to Florida as "snowbirds" appreciating the warm weather, fresh produce and companionship of new loyal friends there.

The family became founding members of the Methodist Church in Coralville. They remember its humble beginnings in a cement block former grocery store. They did their part to help the Church move up to a beautiful new building and location.

Ralph and Zilphy successfully managed their elderly years (together for 72 years) with home caretakers and family support for a very long time. Ralph remarkably remained at home alone until he was over 100 years old (5 years after his wife's death) and was very sad when he finally had to leave his home of 66 years in Coralville to go to the nursing home in January of 2018. At home Ralph had the notable support of Hospice Compassus Comfort Care home care and his family. For this last year of his life, Hospice Compassus, the V.A., Belle Plaine Specialty Care Nursing Home and his family followed his care loyally. The family is grateful to all the care givers who contributed to maintaining the quality of his last years.

Ralph is survived by his and Ziphy's son, Dr. Ralph C. Bohlin of Baltimore, MD and by their daughter, E. Sue Bohlin of Northampton, MA. Ralph valued his memberships in the American Legion, the Masonic Lodge, (charter member of ) the Coralville United Methodist Church, and other social groups. It was important to him that he had contributed as a radio operator to help win WWII with his service in the Army Air Corps, even to the point he specified that his Air Force cap be buried with him.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at the Sorden Cemetery a few miles northwest of Webster, Iowa. The Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona is in charge of the arrangements.