TAMA-Bruce M. Bolen Sr., age 82, of Tama died Friday, July 3, 2009, at Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama under the care of Iowa Hospice.
Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 10:30 AM at Living Faith United Methodist Church in Tama with Pastor Jerry Avise-Rouse officiating. The interment will be private. Memorial visitation will be on Monday, July 6 from 5 to 7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Bruce was born on March 16, 1927 in Brooklyn, Iowa, the son of Verner and Carrie (Graham) Bolen. He graduated from Grinnell High School. He was united in marriage with Olive Van Riper on November 9, 1945 in Ames. Bruce was a lifelong farmer. He and Olive founded and operated Bolen's Arrowhead B Campground from 1972 until 1985. Bruce was a member of Living Faith United Methodist Church in Tama. He and Olive had a winter home in Texas that they enjoyed for thirty-two years. Bruce also enjoyed square dancing and spending time with their grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Donald Bolen.
Survivors include his wife Olive of Tama; four children, Sally (Bob) Bone of Birmingham, AL, Bruce Jr. (Connie) Bolen of Greentop, MO, Ben (Jean) Bolen of Tama, and Dave (Ann) Bolen of Tama; fifteen grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; two sisters Dora Pech of Phoenix, AZ, and Ann Smalley of Claremore, OK; a very close cousin that lived with them for many years, Ron (Judie) Clayton of Grinnell; and a foreign exchange student Julio Ambrosio of Argentina.
Memorials are appreciated to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation or Iowa Hospice.