Jean Edward Bollig

Jean Edward Bollig (88) of Detroit Lakes, MN passed away on Saturday July 7, 2018, at Diamond Willow, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. Jean was born on April 26, 1930, in Fargo, ND and raised by Charley and Sylvia Bollig. At a young age the family moved to the Richwood, MN area. He attended the Pelican Valley Country School #116, then Graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1948. After High School, he immediately started working in road construction for Jorgensen Construction until 1951. On January 16, 1951, he enlisted in the United States Army. On May 18, 1955, Jean was united in marriage to Patricia Johnson at Eksjo Lutheran Church near Lake Park, MN.  In 1956, the couple moved to Minneapolis where he attended Gale Telegraphy Institute.  After graduation, he was hired by Northern Pacific Railroad as a Telegrapher Agent.  He worked in numerous towns throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Idaho. In 1993, he retired from Burlington Northern Railroad after 37 years. The couple made their home in Gary, MN where they raised their two sons. After retiring from the railroad, he worked for the City of Gary for nine years before retiring to the couple’s lake home on Big Floyd Lake. Jean enjoyed gardening, attending his Grandchildren’s sporting events, his John Deere Tractor, and his numerous years of early morning coffee with friends at the Northside Café and 59er Diner.  Jean was also a proud member of the Gary American Legion for 56 years and an active member of the Western Minnesota Steam Thrashers Reunion in Rollag. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Diamond Willow for the excellent and compassionate care they provided Jean over the past year. Jean will be remembered and missed by his wife of 63 years, Patricia Bollig; two sons David(Kathy)Bollig of Lakeville, MN, and Steven “Scutt” (Linda) Bollig of Detroit Lakes, MN; four Grandchildren, Kristin (Guy) Willeford, Erin Bollig, Josh Bollig and Jamie Bollig.