John Bollinger

John W. "Bill" Bollinger, 85, of Jackson died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Oct. 14, 1923, in Mayfield, Mo., son of John Henry and Grace "Gertie" Mayfield Bollinger. He and Glenda Ludwig were married Jan. 19, 1946.

Bollinger served in the U.S. Army from Jan. 9, 1943, to July 28, 1945.

He worked on the pipeline for the former R.B. Potashnick Construction Co. in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois as a heavy equipment operator. He was a Star Route Carrier for the U.S. Postal Service out of Cape Girardeau from 1966 to 1974 and drove for various auto dealerships in the area, retiring in 1980.

He was a member of Emanuel United Church of Christ in Jackson, VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, local Teamsters Union and a lifetime member of DAV.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, David Bollinger of Burfordville, Mark Bollinger of Glenallen, Mo.; a daughter, Connie Wright of Jackson; a brother, Kenneth Bollinger of Marble Hill, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by a brother and three sisters.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Sam Roethemeyer officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, with full military honors.