John P. Bollinger

John P. Bollinger, age 91, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 10:42 pm on Friday April 15, 2022, at Kingston Care Center, Fort Wayne. Born on a very hot day, July 7, 1930, in the northwest bedroom of a small farmhouse located in Washington Township of Whitley County, he was the son of Harry R. and W.  Joyce (Reed) Bollinger.

John was a lifetime Whitley County resident and graduated from Washington Center High School with the Class of 1949.  He then attended North Manchester College, North Manchester, for 2 years.  John worked for Testworth Laboratory, Columbia City and Whitley Manufacturing, South Whitley while farming.  He enrolled at Purdue University, West Lafayette, in the fall of 1957. On, January 26, 1958, he married Marian L. Harvey at South Whitley Church of the Brethren.  While attending Purdue John worked at the Purdue Dairy Farm and for other area dairy farmers. He graduated very distinguished with a degree in Agriculture Science.

John was a 9-year member of the Whitley County4-H Dairy Club and also spent two years working on the Knipe Springs Farm, Rome City.

After graduation, John worked for Borden’s Ice Cream as Head Mix Maker before going to the Indiana State Board of Health for 33 years, in the Dairy Production Division as a Registered Professional Sanitarian.  During those years he was affiliated with Indiana Association of Sanitarians, International Association of Sanitarians and the Church of the Brethren.  John was a lifelong part-time farmer, and enjoyed gardening, woodworking, making maple syrup, and collecting toy dairy trucks.  On April 7, 2015, he was awarded the Steve Atkinson Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indiana Milk Quality Professionals, Inc. for outstanding service to the Indiana dairy industry.

Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Marian L. Bollinger of Columbia City; children Kristine A. (Ron) Ferguson of Fort Wayne, Kevin E. (Diane) Bollinger, Kurtis L.  Bollinger, Klinton J. (KJ) Bollinger, partner, Addie Piatt, all of Columbia City; Klayton P. (Margie) Bollinger of Wabash; 9 grandchildren Alisha Treece, Samantha (Robert) Shively, Kenyon K. Bollinger, Jonathon Bollinger, Dr. Cory (Ariana) Ferguson, Cody Ferguson, Kaleb Bollinger, MaKayla Bollinger, and Keith Bollinger; 9 great-grandchildren Dillon, Karter, and Carlie Thompson, Charleigh Townsend, Savannah Autumn, and Ebony Shively, Brantlee Striggle, and Levi Shively; sisters Alice  Bohnstedt of Columbia City and Wanda Friesen of San Luis Obispo; sister-in-law Velva Bollinger of Marion.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant son Kenyon Bollinger, brother Harry Bollinger, Jr., sister Mary Thomas, and brothers-in-law Jack Thomas and Edward Bohnstedt.

Private funeral services for John will be held for his family with burial in South Whitley Cemetery, South Whitley.

Memorial donations may be given in memory to Donor's Choice.

Arrangements by DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City.

Visit www.demoneygrimes.com  to send family condolences or sign the online guest book.