Donald L. Bollenbacher, age 85, of Decatur, passed into the arms of his Lord while in the love and care of his family at his home on Tuesday night, Oct. 23, 2012. Don was born on August 28, 1927 in Jefferson Township at home to Edward and Nora (Morningstar) Bollenbacher, the youngest of six children. He was raised on the family farm where he acquired a love and appreciation of farming. He attended Jefferson school through the eighth grade when he left school, as many of his generation did, to help support his family by working on the family farm. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in April of 1946, serving his country as part of the Army of Occupation in Germany until his honorable discharge in April of 1949. Don was a Military Policeman and was stationed in Berlin. While home on a furlough, Don met Evelyn Louise Ketrow. They fell in love and were married on November 18, 1947. They made their home and raised their family in rural Willshire, Ohio on their twenty-five acre farm; where Don farmed and raised cattle, and Evelyn raised chickens! The couple enjoyed a loving and fruitful marriage until Evelyn preceded him in death in 1987. Don was blessed again with finding love and was married to Janice Irene (Foster) Bowen on July 16, 1988 in Van Wert County, Ohio. Besides farming, Don worked at Central Soya in Decatur for over forty-six years until his retirement in the early 1990's. He and Janice moved from the farm into Decatur in October 2008. Don was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Schumm, Ohio. He belonged to the Decatur Veterans of Foreign War, Decatur & Willshire American Legions, and the Decatur Moose Lodge. Don was a dedicated NASCAR fan, rarely missing a race day! Both of the Earnhardts were his favorite drivers. Later in life he liked to watch television, especially Wheel of Fortune! He loved his Amish friends. After his retirement, he would drive them to different construction jobs and help them work. They were some of his happiest days. When Don's health failed and he couldn't drive anymore, they presented Don with a gift of a puppy who he named Jake. Jake was absolutely Don's dog! He was his constant companion until Don's death. After not being able to drive anymore Don still enjoyed drives with his family. He purchased a larger lawn tractor that served double duty for him. Besides lawn duty, it served as Don's main form of transportation around Decatur! Don is survived by his wife Janice, son Dick (Val) Bollenbacher of Ohio City, Ohio, daughters; Eldana (Don) Edgell of Pleasant Mills, Indiana, and Suzette Bocanegra of Marshall, Michigan, step-daughter, Sue (Todd) Semer of Ohio City, Ohio, and step-son Terry Bowen of New Lexington, Ohio. He is also survived by five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, ten step-grandchildren, twenty-one step-great-grandchildren, one great great-grandchild and two step-great-great-grandchildren; also many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death also by his parents, four brothers, Delmas "Mike", Chalmer, Cecil, and Kenneth "Duke" Bollenbacher, and a sister, Alice Pauline Miller. Friends may call at Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, on Friday, October 26, 2012 from 2 to 5 p.m. & 6 to 8 p.m., where family will be present to greet friends and share memories. There will be a Moose Memorial Service held at 8 p.m. following visitation in the funeral home. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur with Rev. Jeff Patterson officiating. Interment will follow at Willshire Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, Family LifeCare, or Riley Children's Hospital.
