Ronald Bolinger, of Pine Island, Minn., passed away at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, Minn. on March 1, 2015, at the age of 64. He had been battling cancer for the last four and a half years.

Ronald Jay Bolinger was born May 24, 1950, in Albert Lea, Minn. He was the only child of James and Hazel Jasperson Bolinger. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1968. He then enrolled at St. Olaf College, graduating with a degree in music education in May 1972.

While at St. Olaf he met Ann Larson Bolinger ’72 and they were married May 30, 1972, at Boe Memorial Chapel on the St. Olaf campus. In the fall of 1972 he enrolled at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in May 1976 and was ordained into pastoral ministry at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea June 6, 1976.

His first call was to Grace Lutheran in Driscoll, N.D., where he began serving in June 1976. Subsequent calls were to Zion Lutheran, Beulah, N.D., 1979-1982; United Lutheran Church, Red Wing, Minn., 1982-1988; Faith Lutheran, Hoyt Lakes, Minn., 1988-1997; and St. Peter Lutheran, Rockwell, Iowa, 1997-2009. He then served part-time at Emmanuel Lutheran, Grafton, Iowa from 2010-2012. The love and support he and his family received in each of these congregations was a gift beyond measure.

Music was always a huge part of Ron’s life. He began taking piano lessons from a relative at age six and organ lessons at age 12. He sang in choir while in high school and worked as a church organist. In college Ron was privileged to sing with the St. Olaf Choir under Kenneth Jennings. He travelled to Europe with the choir in 1970 and again in 1972 when the choir was the featured choir at the Strasburg Music Festival in France. That trip was also his and Ann’s honeymoon!

After college he sang with the Dale Warland Singers for two years. In North Dakota he sang with the Bismarck-Mandan Chorale, in Red Wing with the Madrigal Singers (appearing on a “Prairie Home Companion” with Garrison Keillor), and in Rockwell with the North Iowa Chorale Society. He enjoyed singing with these groups immensely and called it “his therapy.” Music was where he most often experienced God.

Ron was an avid reader, enjoyed a good cup of coffee, had a small collection of fountain pens, and was always interested in photography. He liked to travel and the family had some memorable trips! He enjoyed watching sports, especially those his children participated in. Ron had a soft spot for animals and during their 42 years together, he and Ann “rescued” and gave homes to six dogs and seven cats.

After retiring from full-time ministry, he and Ann moved to their “dream home,” an acreage in New Haven Township near Pine Island. Here they enjoyed their new neighbors, woods, and wildflowers, the turkeys and deer, and especially the birds. In Pine Island they found a new church home at St. Paul Lutheran. For the first time in a very long time, Ron was again the person in the pew. He appreciated the fine sermons and gracious fellowship extended to him by Pastors Kip Groettum, John Lohre, Gary Wees, and Dave Peterson. He enjoyed being with the members of St. Paul who welcomed him into worship, the choir, and adult Bible Study.

Ron is survived by his wife, Ann; their three children, Erin Bolinger Rozier ’99 and husband Steve, Elizabeth Bolinger, and Ethan Bolinger and wife Kendra Wong; his cousin, Kent Jasperson and wife Julie; his sister and brother-in-law, Kathy Larson and Gordon Flett; and special friends Gladys “Nana” Anderson, Liz Michael Davis, Kaylee Michael, and Godson Kaleb Michael Davis. Preceding him in death includes father-in-law, Silas Larson ’42.