Reamer Augustus Bolz was born on August 13, 1920 in Somers, Montana to Augustus and Nora Taylor Bolz. He died from complications of Alzheimer's disease on January 26, 2011, in Eugene, Oregon.
He was born the youngest of four children on a farm near the north end of Flathead Lake in northwestern Montana. He moved to Spokane, Washington while in elementary school, completing high school and business college there. He married Margaret Krom from Penawawa, Washington in 1948. They were married for 62 years, living in Portland, Oregon; Laramie, Wyoming; and Eugene, Oregon. They had two sons, Christopher and Robin.
Upon graduating from business college, he began his career with the Union Pacific Railroad in 1941 which was interrupted when he volunteered for the army in 1943. He served in World War II in military intelligence with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy. After the war, he attended Washington State University on the GI bill, graduating with a Bachelor's degree with honors in Forestry. Following college, he resumed his career working for the Union Pacific Railroad, settling in Portland, Oregon in 1950. While there, he served in the Special Forces Detachment (Green Berets) of the US Army Reserves, eventually rising to the rank of Major and commanding officer of the Detachment from 1961 to 1966. He moved his family to Laramie, Wyoming in 1970 and concluded his career with the Union Pacific Railroad as the superintendent of the rail welding plant there, retiring in 1980. His association with the Masons began while in high school when he joined the Order of DeMolay. In 1997, he was invested with the DeMolay Legion of Honor. He served as a teacher and leader at Grace Baptist Church and on the Salvation Army Board in Laramie, Wyoming. He loved listening to Margaret play the piano and organ, ski, and read.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; son Christopher and his wife Heidi of Eugene, Oregon; son Robin and wife Janet of Sammamish, Washington; 3 granddaughters; Megan, Brittany, and Kenley and 1 grandson, Jeremy. Details for his service being held on February 5, in Dusty, Washington, are available through Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax, Washington. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to support his grandchildren, Andy and Megan (Bolz) Magel at Open Door Ministries, PO Box 18018, Denver, CO, 80218.
Visitation will be from 9 am to 5 pm on Friday, February 4 at the funeral home. The funeral will be at 10 am on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at the Country Bible Church in Dusty. Burial will follow at the Dusty Cemetery.