BOLLENBACHER Rev. Clifford
Bollenbacher, age 87, of Marion, went to be with the Lord on Saturday,
August 10, 2019, at Mercy Hospital in Tiffin, Ohio, after suffering from
Alzheimer’s for ten plus years. On February 26,
1932, Cliff was born in Mercer County, Ohio, the fourth of five children
of the late Victor T. and Martha Louise (Fahncke) Bollenbacher. He was
raised in Rockford, Ohio, and graduated from Rockford High School in the
class of 1950. During school,
Cliff was high school sweethearts with Laurabel Felver, whom he married
shortly after graduation on October 12, 1952. They cherished their
sixty six plus years together, and lovingly raised four children: Mark,
Steve, Teresa, and Nancy. In 1952, Cliff was
drafted to serve in the U.S. Army. He served in an artillery unit in
Korea, during the Korean War. Upon his honorable
discharge, Cliff returned home to Mercer County, where he farmed for ten
years. While farming, he received a call from God to go into the
ministry. During that time, he attended night classes at the Ohio State
University in Lima, until he could transfer to the main campus, where he
earned his bachelors degree. In 1965, Cliff and his family moved to
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he furthered his education at the
Lancaster Theological Seminary, earning his masters degree in divinity
in 1968. Cliff always went above and beyond to care for his family,
working countless jobs during school to help make ends meet. After theological
school, Cliff’s first church placement was at the First United Church of
Christ in Marion, where he served for twelve years. He then went to
Belize, Central America, to work at the Heifer Project, where he served
as the director of the National 4H Center for three years. Next, he
served as the pastor at the Mount Olivet United Church of Christ for
fourteen years, retiring in 1997. Always willing to answer the call of
service to his Lord and Savior, he served as an interim pastor at
Bucyrus, Bluffton, Buckland and Waldo, Ohio, for many years following
his retirement. Cliff was a member
and served on the board of the Northwest Ohio Association of the United
Church of Christ. He served on the Civitan and Rutan service
organizations, and was served on the US Open board for the Drum and
Bugle Corp in Marion. After his retirement, he returned to Marion and
was a member of the First United Church of Christ, where he was a pastor
emeritus and helped with the UCC disaster response team. A self taught
handyman, Cliff was a “master tinkerer”, who could figure out how to fix
about anything. He had a good sense of humor, often joking around with
his family and friends, never taking himself too seriously. He also was
an avid OSU Buckeye fan. Cliff lived a life
of faith and service to God and to the people of God. He also deeply
loved his family, always showing them he cared in his own way. Left to cherish
his memory are his beloved wife, Laura Bollenbacher; four children: Mark
Bollenbacher, Steve Bollenbacher, all three of Marion, Teresa (Darzell)
Taylor of Columbus, and Nancy (Mark) Hicks of Apex, NC; five
grandchildren: Katlin (Shon Luckett) Seckel, Greg Seckel, and Paul,
Eric, and Nathan Hicks; one great-granddaughter, Miscela Luckett; a
brother, Jerome Bollenbacher of Rockford; a sister-in-law, Ruby
Bollenbacher of Eaton; and numerous nieces and nephews. Including his
parents, Cliff was preceded in death by three siblings and two of their
spouses: Lloyd Bollenbacher, Don (Eileen) Bollenbacher, and Jane
(Vernon) Luginbill; and a sister-in-law, Ruth Bollenbacher. His family will
greet friends from 1:30 – 3:30 PM on Friday, August 16, 2019, at the
First United Church of Christ at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 930 Harding
Memorial Pkwy, Marion. Services honoring his life will follow there at
3:30 PM with religious leader Rev. Daniel Busch officiating. Family and
friends will be welcome to stay for a meal at the church following his
services. Memorial
contributions may be made to the Heifer Project (www.heifer.org),
Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org), or to the First United Church of
Christ, 930 Harding Memorial Pkwy, Marion, OH 43302. Snyder Funeral Homes of Marion are honored to serve Cliff’s family and your condolences may be expressed to them by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
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