From the Betty Shope Collection (Celina Daily Standard 7/24/2006)
Ed Bollenbacher, 76, 2560 Oregon Road, Rockford, died at 7:30 a.m.
July 22, 2006, at Van Wert County Hospital.
He was born May 20,
1930, in Liberty Township, to Thedore and Minnie Brehm Bollenbacher.
In September 1950, he married Kody Erl Wisenborn, who died Aug. 3,
1980. On Nov. 20, 1981, he married Joan Moeller, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Bruce, Rockford; two daughters, BethAnne
(Gary) Eikenberry, Union City, and Becky Jo (Bob) Shope, Rockford;
three stepsons, Brad (Patty) James, Toledo, Bruce (Mary) James,
Celina, and Brian James, Wilmington; a brother, John Jr., Willshire; a
daughter-in-law, Beverly Kuck, New Bremen; a brother-in-law, Robert
Wisenborn, Celina; eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and
four stepgrandchildren.
Deceased are a son, Barry; a sister,
Leola Doner; and a grandchild.
He was a farmer and 1948
graduate of Rockford High School. He was a basketball and football
referee for 38 years. He was director of the Mercer County Board of
Elections for 14 years. He served two terms on the Wabash Mutual
Telephone Company board of directors. He was commissioner of the ACME
baseball League for 20 years and was inducted into its Congress Hall
of Fame in 2005.
He was president of PERS since 2006 and a
member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Rockford; Loyal Order of
Moose Lodge 1473, Celina; and Mercer County Democratic Party.
He was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles Shanes Aerie 1292,
Rockford; Ohio State Aerie Hall of Fame; and Grand Aerie Hall of Fame.
He was president of Ohio State Aerie Eagles in 1987; Grand Worthy
President of Franternal Order of Eagles in 2001; and chairman of Eagle
Village and Memorial Fund Foundation.
Services are 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Jerry Flueckiger officiating. Burial
is at the church cemetery.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at Cisco
Funeral Home, Celina, and after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Fraternal Order of Eagles' rites are 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral
home.
Contributions can be made to the church or Ohio State
Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Fund.
Contributed by Becky Bollenbacher Shope