Jerry Von Bolander

Jerry Von Bolander (72) was born on January 13, 1952, in Shelly, Idaho to Von and Lorraine Bolander. The second oldest of eight siblings, he grew up in a busy home. Jerry loved cars from a young age and could often be found washing his car on a daily basis during high school. That love of cars led him to pursue auto mechanics at Boise State University's Vocational Technology Program. He also went on to pursue certifications in welding.
While working on other folks's cars did not necessarily bring him joy, working on his own cars in his spare time was much more exciting. Jerry joined the classic car community in the 70s and had great success showing his beautiful 34 Ford. It was a time for adventures, and he made many lasting friendships and memories along the way.
Over the course of his working life, Jerry worked a variety of jobs. He was a hard worker and often received awards for dedication, excellence, and teamwork. He started his career as an automotive tech and worked at a number of shops and dealerships. He continued to learn and obtain certifications to improve his performance. He spent just over eight years at Micron as a production operator and then spent time at a few warehouses where he did whatever needed to be done. His later career was spent in the service of fighting fires. Whether that was setting up the base camps, driving equipment, or volunteering with the Clear Creek Fire Department, he was an integral part of the operation and felt a lot of pride in the service he was able to offer.
Jerry liked to be helpful and to do for others. He could be ornery and solitary, but if someone needed him, he wouldn't hesitate to do what he could. He found a lot of peace visiting and supporting his dad before he passed in 2019.
The natural world was something Jerry really connected with and loved. He was fascinated by interesting rocks, plants of all kinds, animal life, and the vastness of a forest or mountain range. He enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities, but he also liked to just soak in the world. His photo albums are full of sunsets, snow packs, and wildlife.
While always a lover of dogs, it was in the 90s he chose a small chihuahua named Bud to be his canine companion. After Bud passed over the rainbow bridge, Jerry got another chihuahua, which he named Five Miles. It was his favorite joke to tell people he walked Five Miles every day in fact sometimes he walked Five Miles down to the river and then walked Five Miles back home. He enjoyed the last several years letting Rose and Half-Mile rule the roost.
Jerry loved to tell jokes and to make people laugh. He had some great one-liners and would share them with friends and strangers alike.
Jerry leaves behind three daughters, Emily, Kimberly, and Katie, from his first marriage to Lillian Closner. Being a Dad didn't always come naturally to him, but he was endlessly proud of his girls and what they did in their lives.
Jerry is survived by his three children and their families: Emily (Jay) Morgan, Nikolai & Aleksi; Kimberly (Caleb) Barker, Trenton, Gavin, Addison, Raegan, & Mason; Katie (Bryce) Bell, Elizabeth, Adeline, Meg, Spencer, Bennet, & Libby. Also his siblings: Marlene Roscheck, Thane (LaDawn), Cheryl (Ron) Boman, Vicky (Lance) Johnson, Denice (Scott) Thornton, Kevin, and sister-in-law Lorie, and many, many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Von & Lorraine and his brother Doug.
There will be a reception-style Celebration of Life for Jerry on February 8th from 2:00-4:00 pm in Boise: 701 S Curtis Rd, Boise, ID 83705. All are welcome to come and share stories and memories together and celebrate Jerry's life. In lieu of flowers, please come and share a favorite memory you have of Jerry, or donate to a local volunteer fire department.