Bolson, Marlin A. 1924 - 2021

BOLSON, YOUNG, TWEED, CARRAWAY, ANDERSON, GOEBEL, SYKES, RUCKER, LYON, CLINE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/17/2021 at 15:40:50

U.S. Veteran

Marlin A. Bolson, a proud life-long resident of Decorah, died on Thursday, September 9, 2021, at the age of 97.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Peter Kowitz officiating. Burial will be Tuesday afternoon, September 14, at 4:00 P.M. in the Beaver Creek Lutheran Cemetery in rural Joice, IA, with Military Honors.

The funeral on Tuesday will be livestreamed at: https://youtu.be/V3pQub9dKfg

Visitation will be on Tuesday beginning at 10:00 a.m., one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church.

Marlin was born to Lawrence and Violet (Young) Bolson on March 25,1924 in Decorah, IA. He was baptized in the Lutheran faith and confirmed at Decorah Lutheran Church on June 5, 1938. Marlin graduated from Decorah High School in 1942.

In February 1943, at age 18, Marlin joined the U.S. Army and in July was one of 20,000 soldiers who traveled by ship out of New York on the RMS Queen Mary. He slept in the bottom of the ship in the freight room on a hard wooden floor. Soldiers were fed twice a day - with their eating schedules pinned to their uniforms. The ship frequently changed directions to avoid enemy fire, and the soldiers disembarked in France, the day after D-Day. Marlin served various roles in the Army but was especially proud of his work as a driver for the Chaplain and worked as his assistant, transporting the wounded, ministering to their physical and spiritual needs. While in Belgium, he and the Chaplain escaped injury by diving into a doorway as a bomb exploded in the next block. On December 16, 1945 he boarded a heavy cruiser and it ran into the worst storm the ship’s captain had ever seen. Marlin arrived in New York on Christmas Day 1945, and was honorably discharged after 29 months of service in the European Theatre of Operations, having achieved the ranking of Tec 4.

Marlin graduated from Luther College in 1949 with a major in Economics. Marlin met the love of his life, Syvilla, who was also studying at Luther. Eight couples from Luther became close friends and kept in close contact all these years, with round robin letters circulating to this day. Over all the years, these friends would meet for retreats once a year somewhere in the country, although what ensued on these gatherings was never revealed to outsiders.

Marlin was united in marriage to Syvilla Tweed (Joice, Iowa) by the Reverend Scheie, on Easter Sunday, March 25, 1951, at Beaver Creek Lutheran Church, rural Joice, Iowa in a snowstorm. They built and lived in the same home in Decorah, Iowa all of their married lives. They loved their family and travelled throughout the Midwest to attend graduations, weddings, and school events. After Syvilla’s death in 2011, he became a regular fixture at the Winneshiek Medical Center’s cafeteria, sharing in both intellectual and non-intellectual conversations with the medical staff there who soon became valued friends. Marlin was a proud operator of his John Deere lawn mower until his transition to Wellington Place in June of 2021.

After graduation from college, Marlin had a career managing the L.C. Bolson Feed Co. He was an active member of the Decorah Lutheran Church. Marlin and Syvilla enjoyed six trips to Norway, making their last overseas voyage at ages 78 and 74. He loved the Norwegian culture in Decorah, and never missed a Nordic Fest celebration or chance to sample Norwegian cuisine.

Marlin is survived by his three children: Priscilla Carraway (Kevin Anderson), twin sons, Lynn and Loren, and grandchildren: Rachel Goebel, Anna Rose Sykes, Sophie Sykes, Jacob (Lindsay), Alex, Aaron, Tara Rucker (Nate), and Katie (Nate) Lyon. Great - grandchildren include Grace Goebel, Ada, Samuel, Hannah, and Jack Bolson, and Emmett and Lucy Lyon, and Boedi and Anders Rucker.

He was preceded in death by his wife Syvilla on September 27, 2011, his parents, brother Ransome and sister Vernetta Cline.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago St., Decorah, IA 52101 or WMC Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral home database