Gary Bolthouse

Gary H. Bolthouse, (aka BOLDER) was the son of Hank and Hattie (Walker, deceased) and step-mom Jean Kapperman. He went to school in Oregon and graduated from Oregon High School in 1965. He worked for Wood Brothers, until he was drafted in 1966. He served 2 years in the US Army, stationed in Erlangen, Germany. Upon returning to Oregon, he went back to Wood Brothers until 1978. Then he went to work for Larry Wright Construction. He truly enjoyed and loved this type of work, but made the decision to work at Crest Foods in Ashton doing machinist work, designing, building and installing food product machines and conveyors. He worked there until 1995, when he took a job as Grounds & Building Manager for St Mary Catholic Church - he had been doing this part-time since 1969. He retired in 2014, but still had a part-time job as Oregon/Nashua Township Assessor until his death.

He married Becky Reimer on April 12,1969. They have 2 daughters - Darcie (James) Bettner, children: Trenten, Danyelle and Molley; Maggie (Tom) Stalzer: children: Luke and Ella. He dearly loved his daughters and the grandchildren; he was so proud of all of them.

Gary belonged to the Oregon/Mt Morris Knights of Columbus, the Father Boland 4th Degree Council, and was a District Deputy. He enjoyed the men he met through the Knights and he tried to live by their belief:  God, Family and Country. He was proud to be a Knight, a Dad, Grandpa and an American Veteran.

He enjoyed getting together with friends for, as he put it, "Cocktails "and enjoying the moment. He so enjoyed doing this, that one of his purchases was a BEER TAPPER and once a year he would forgo the keg of BUSCH for a keg of KILLIEAN (for Becky!). In fact, his neighbors were having a gathering at their newly constructed garage and Gary said "I'll bring the beer."  With the help of another neighbor, they pushed the tapper (with a KEG) up a hill to the GATHERING! The last 5 years he bought a camper and loved going to the Timber Lake Campgrounds for the weekends. He couldn't wait for the season to open. Nothing like a beer or cocktail looking at a campfire! He was an avid CUBS FAN. He loved to root for them, especially when they played the Cardinals (Becky's favorite team!).

He is survived by his wife Becky, daughters, grandchildren, sister Ruth Ann Hufford, brother-in-law and good friend Danny (Grace) Reimer

He was predeceased by: infant daughter Katie, his parents, brothers: Eugene, Dennis and Irvin, in-laws: Dan (Sr) and Marge Reimer, brother-in-law Andy and his close friend Father William (Bill) Budden (who introduced Gary to GIN!).  Funeral mass will be held 10:30 AM on Monday, November 7, 2022 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Oregon, Illinois with the Rev. Tim Siegel officiating.  Burial and military honors will follow the service at the St. Mary’s Cemetery near Oregon, IL.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2022 from 3:00 -5:00 PM at the Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 110 S. 7th Street, Oregon, Illinois. A memorial fund is established for the Wounded Warrior Project.