Joseph Bollinger

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Joseph J. "Joe" Bollinger, 87, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, at St. Ambrose church in Chaffee during 9 a.m. Mass.

He was born Jan. 18, 1918, in Benton, Mo., the son of the late Victor and Clementine (Hahn) Bollinger. He married Phyllis E. O'Donnell on March 25,1940, in Cape Girardeau, who survives.

He was preceded in death by his twin brother John, brothers Harold and Monroe, all of Benton, and one sister, Viola Dannenmueller of Cape Girardeau.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Saxony Village in Cape Girardeau, daughters Mary Clementine Tripp (Don), of Cape Girardeau, Brenda Rose Blevins (the late Bob Blevins) of New Madrid, Mo.; one son, Daniel Joseph Bollinger (Lynn Ransdell) of Camilla, Ga.; four grandchildren, Melinda Blevins Kirk (Joe) of Knoxville, Tenn.; Jason Blevins (Michelle) of Woodstock, Ga.; Lee Bollinger Ingram (Kevin) of Dothan, Ala.; and Daniel J. "Chip" Bollinger of North Hollywood, Calif.; and five great-grandchildren. Also surviving are one sister, Anna Marie Glenn (Dr. Theodore J.) of Texas and sister-in-law, Marie (Michael) Bollinger of Benton.

Joe was a veteran of World War II, flying 87 missions as a radioman for the Army Air Corps in the same C-47 with the same pilot, and receiving the silver star. He was a member of American Legion and VFW in Chaffee. Mr. Bollinger served as Exalted Ruler of Elks Lodges in Chaffee, Springfield, Mo., and Jefferson City, Mo., District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for the Southeast District of Missouri and secretary of Chaffee Lodge for 14 years. He retired from the Selective Service system as state director and received the Meritorious Service Award by the Civil Service Commission. He was a 4th Degree Knight of Oran, Council of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the St. Ambrose Men's Club and Cursillo.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett funeral chapel in Chaffee. KC prayers will be at 6:30 p.m. with Rosary to follow. Elks service will be at 7 p.m.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am. at the St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee by the Rev. Ralph Duffner, with burial in the church cemetery with full military honors.

Pallbearers are Tom Bollinger, Bill Bollinger, Michael Bollinger, Chuck Bollinger, John Bollinger, Jim Bollinger, and Robert Dannenmueller.

The family requests in lieu of flowers memorials be made to the Elks National Foundation 2750 N. Ave., Chicago, Ill., 60614 and St. Ambrose Catholic School, 418 South Third, Chaffee, Mo.