Douglas Bolsem

Celebration of life services for Douglas Bolsem, 83, who passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024 in Urbandale, will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 3, 2024, at the Scotch Ridge United Presbyterian Church, Carlisle. Inurnment of cremains will follow services in the Scotch Ridge Cemetery. The family will greet friends one hour prior to services Friday at the church.
Buddy Douglas Bolsem was born on November 22, 1940 to Mathew and Violette Mae (Holbrook) Bolsem in Clarinda, Iowa.
Doug was a student at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and graduated from Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri in 1960. Later that same year, he married the love of his life, Jan Gibson. After their wedding, Doug joined the United States Army and served until 1963, when he was honorably discharged.
After the Army, Doug and Jan moved to Council Bluffs/Omaha. Later living in Des Moines, Cedar Falls and Urbandale, where they raised their two children, Sue and Dan. After many years working in sales, he followed his life long dream of becoming a pastor. He served Scotch Ridge United Presbytarian Church in Carlisle for many years until his retirement.
Doug is survived by his daughter, Sue Rosien (Jeff); son, Dan Bolsem (Ashley); grandchildren, Ashley Shields (Ryan), Morgan Schumacher (Brent), Jameson Rosien (Alex), Arbor Bolsem, Thatcher Bolsem and Sutton Bolsem; great-grandchildren, Jack Shields, Lia Shields, Brynn Schumacher, Chandler Schumacher and Kellen Schumacher, Finley, Holden and Emerson Rosien. He was preceded in death by his wife Janis Bolsem, parents Mathew Bolsem and Violette Elliott and her husband Dr. Olin Elliott.
Memorial contributions may be made to Karen Acres Health Care Center or Scotch Ridge United Presbyterian Church.