James Richard “Jim” Bolte, 55, Ava, passed away suddenly on Saturday, July 23, 2005. He was born March 10, 1950, in Salina, Kan., the son of Armin George and Ruth Caroline (Sauerteig) Bolte.
Jim graduated from Ava High School in 1968 and from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1972, with a degree in animal husbandry. Upon graduation he fulfilled his NROTC duties with the U.S. Navy in the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS Forrestal and obtained the rank of lieutenant. After his discharge in 1975, he became employed with Farmers Home administration at Farmington. There he met a young clerk, Mary Sue Weber, who became his loving bride on Aug. 6, 1977. They resided in Farmington, West Plains and Ava as they followed Jim’s work assignments. At the time of his death, Jim was completing his 30th year of employment as a loan officer with Farm Service Agency, formerly known as Farmers Home Administration.
He was a devoted husband, and caring father who dearly loved his family as well as his large extended family. He was also a faithful Christian man and head elder for a number of years at Zion Lutheran Church of Diggins. His faith, family and farming were very important in his life, and he spoke frequently of their significance.
Jim is survived by his wife, Mary; two sons, William George Bolte, Overland Park, Kan., and Robert James Bolte, Springfield; his mother, Ruth Bolte, Ava; two sisters, Barbara Holmes and husband, Larry, of Diggins, and Beth Butcher and husband, Stephen, of Sikeston; one aunt, Mary Alice Sauerteig, Indianapolis, Ind.; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and many caring friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, A.G. Bolte.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today (Thursday) in Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Dana Wilkie officiating.
Burial will follow in the Turkey Creek Cemetery with full military honors rendered by American Legion Post 112 and VFW Post 5993.
An open visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.
The family requests memorial donations be given to the Zion Lutheran Church or Gideons International, c/o Barnes Family Funeral Home.
