Bolich, Merle F. (1927 - 2018)

BOLICH, CLARK, BROWN, HAMIK

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 4/21/2018 at 23:17:54

Name of deceased: Merle (“John”) Fenton Bolich

Aged: 90 yrs, 11 mo, 4 days

Residence: Avoca Specialty Care, Avoca, IA (since July 2014)

Born: April 15, 1927; Ainsworth, Brown County, NE

Died: March 19, 2018; Avoca Specialty Care, Avoca, Pottawattamie County, IA

Funeral services: Tuesday, March 27, 2018; Pauley Jones Funeral Home, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Sister, Mary Clark of Ainsworth, NE; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Andrew Jackson and Ella (nee Brown) Bolich; wife of 48 years, Therese (deceased Oct. 18, 1997); siblings, Carl, Leonard, Ora, Beryl, Velma, Marcella and 2 infant sisters

Education: attended Brown County School near Ainsworth, NE

Religious affiliation: no information provided

Military service: U. S. Army, May 4, 1945, Ft. Leavenworth, KS, serving his country state-side for 6 months before being deployed to Japan at the end of World War II. He served overseas for one month until his honorable discharge on Dec. 4, 1945 and was awarded Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal. After the end of World War II, he reenlisted into the U. S. Army Air Corp and served another 24 years, ending his military service in the U. S. Air Force. During his service, John was stationed throughout the world including Germany, Tokyo, Labrador, Canada, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam. He retired from the U. S. Air Force with an honorable discharge on Dec. 31, 1969 at the Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado, having attained the rank of Technical Sergeant.

Marriage: Therese Louise Hamik; Dec. 23, 1948; location not provided

Employment: After his military service, John worked for Coca-Cola while he and Therese were in Colorado. They then moved to Harlan, IA in 1981 as retirees.

Hobbies/Interests: With Therese, he loved canning produce from their garden and then sharing it with their family, friends and neighbors. After Therese’s death, John became active at the Senior Center in Harlan where he volunteered in the kitchen and served on the Senior Center Council for years.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; pauleyjones.com