John and Marian Bolz

1927 - 2023

John and Marian Bolz

John Adolph Bolz born July 20, 1927, in Madison, WI, passed away on May 30, 2023.

"Jack" was the youngest of Adolph C. and Eugenie Mayer Bolz's children. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert M. Bolz of Madison, WI; and sister, Marjorie Allen of Dellwood, MN.

He graduated from Shattuck Military Academy in 1945, and enlisted in the Navy at age 18. Under the GI Bill, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he enrolled in ROTC and graduated in 1950 with a B.S. Degree in Economics and Political Science. After attending the University of Wisconsin School of Law for two years, he was commissioned in the Army and served as a Military Police Officer in Korea in 1954.

In 1957, Jack married Marian Richter of Chicago, IL. His life-long partner of 66 years, Marian followed him in death on June 6, 2023. Together they raised their five children as Jack built his 30-plus-year career with Oscar Mayer & Co. He held a variety of positions across the country from sales and marketing to VP of Corporate Relations.

Along with his siblings, Jack directed the Eugenie Mayer Bolz Family Foundation in supporting a broad array of community programs and projects enriching Dane County and the Great Lakes Region. Throughout his life, he also was an active leader in dozens of civic organizations and foundations that supported nature conservancies and public parks, clean lakes, botanical gardens and zoos, youth and family programs and camps, the arts and music, the justice system, assisted living facilities and hospice, hospitals, and community foundations, such as Madison Community Foundation and United Way Foundation of Dane County. His generosity, commitment to community stewardship, and expertise in finances and investing were valued assets for these organizations.

An avid Badger fan, Jack served many years on the University of Wisconsin-Madison's College of Letters and Science Board of Visitors, and he and his wife Marian were enthusiastic contributors to the University's Bolz Center for Arts Administration. He attended Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, where he served in various leadership positions. "Captain Jack" was also a competitive scow sailor who served as Commodore of both the Mendota Yacht Club and the Inland Lakes Yachting Association.

Additionally, Jack was the beloved captain of his family and rarely missed an opportunity for fun in Madison, the Northwoods of Wisconsin, deserts of California, or mountains of Colorado. He had a vast circle of life-long friends and cousins (he was one of Oscar F. Mayer's 16 grandchildren), who relished his playful camaraderie and sense of humor. While he enjoyed traveling, he treasured his home in the Village of Maple Bluff, where he lived for much of his life and served as President of the Village Board. He loved the outdoors, skiing, sailing and iceboating, fishing, cooking brats at family events and tailgate parties, and taking family out for pontoon boat rides and Sunday afternoon drives in the country.

Marian Richter Bolz passed away on June 6, 2023, in Madison, WI. She was married to John (Jack) A. Bolz, who preceded her in death by a week. Together, they raised five children and lived in Madison for almost 60 years.

Marian was born on June 15, 1929, in Chicago, IL, to Dr. Oscar and Frieda Richter. Her brother, Dr. Robert Richter of Santa Monica, CA, preceded her in death.

In 1946, Marian graduated from Southern Seminary (a boarding school) in Virginia and in 1950, from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she was elected VP of the Student Government and a member of its honorary May Court. Following graduation, she traveled in post-World War II Europe and the Caribbean and wrote and lectured about her experiences. Marian later worked as a women's wear buyer for Carson Pirie Scott in Chicago and Macy's in Kansas City.

A recognized community leader and fundraiser in the arts, Marian served as president of the Madison Civic Music Association (symphony, opera and chorus) and then president of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. She founded the Madison Symphony Orchestra League and later became a life trustee. She served as president and life trustee of the Madison Art Center, president of the Art League, president and trustee of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO) Foundation, life trustee of WYSO, and director of the Madison Opera Foundation. She was a member of the board of directors of the Overture Development Corporation, which oversaw the design and construction of Madison's Overture Center. She also initiated several community-wide arts blockbusters, including the jewel of the Overture Center, the Klais concert organ, and Madison's Opera in the Park.

Marian was a director of the Wisconsin Academy Foundation and honorary Chairman of the Governor's Arts Awards Ceremony. She was a founding member of the Northwestern University College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors and a board member of YMCA Camp Manito-Wish.

Marian was the recipient of a number of awards, including the Governor's Award for the Arts, the Madison Symphony's John DeMain Award for Outstanding Commitment to Music, Rotary's Senior Service Award, YWCA Women of Distinction, and Madison Community Foundation's inaugural Community Service Award.

Together with her husband, Marian was committed to expanding the arts in Madison, attracting world-class artists, and increasing access to the arts, especially for youth. They were most excited about their partnership with the Bolz Center for Arts Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where graduate students are taught business skills and given hands-on experiences needed to lead arts and nonprofit organizations, as well as the Bolz Final Forte, a competition for aspiring young musicians.

Marian loved learning and encouraging others. She was a mentor to many in the community and had a gift for making people feel welcome.

Jack and Marian enjoyed living at Capitol Lakes Senior Living Community in Madison over the past seven years. They were much loved by family and friends.

They are survived by their five children: Joan Cleary (Jeff) of Burlingame, CA, Carolyn Glah (Bob) of Aspen, CO, Julia Bolz of Madison, WI, Cathy Wilson (Eric) of Seattle, WA, and John R. Bolz of Ann Arbor, MI; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A visitation celebrating Jack and Marian will be held at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Rd. in Madison, WI, on June 15, 2023, from 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. A combined funeral service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 116 W. Washington Ave. in Madison on June 16, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.

Memories can be shared at cressfuneralservice.com. In lieu of flowers, for Jack and Marian, consider a memorial gift to: Olbrich Botanical Gardens at olbrich.org; Madison Symphony Orchestra at madisonsymphony.org; Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras at wysomusic.org; United Way of Dane County at unitedwaydanecounty.org; Bolz Center for Arts Administration at business.wisc.edu/centers/bolz/.

The Bolz Family is extremely grateful for the unwavering support and care provided to their parents by caregivers at Capitol Lakes Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Agrace in Madison.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road Madison

(608) 238-3434