William "Bill" Bolerjack

Bill Bolerjack, 83, of Rolla, MO entered eternal rest on October 06, 2023.  He was born in Danville, IL on December 24, 1939, to Arlie Robert and Mary Josephine (Henthorn) Bolerjack.  The family later moved to Bloomington, IL where Bill performed Brahm’s Waltz, Dvorak’s Humoresque and Chopin’s Minute Waltz as a five-year-old pianist.  Later they moved to Lafayette, IN, Hobbs, NM, Santa Barbara, CA, and San Jose, CA before Bill entered the University of Arizona on a full music scholarship.  After graduation, Bill taught grade school music at Roll, AZ, then high school band in San Jose, CA.  Later he moved to Danville, IL and taught all levels of band and choir in Catlin, IL.  There Bill and Joyce, both natives of Danville met for the first time and later married on December 27, 1969. After teaching in Catlin for 10 years, he moved his family to Spring Valley, IL to accept a high school music teaching position in nearby Putnam County Schools.  Later he left teaching and became a piano technician.  He did exceptional work and after moving to Green Valley, AZ, tuned all the pianos for Green Valley Recreation for 20 years.  He tuned for many satisfied famous performing groups such as the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Doc Severinson, and the Glen Miller Orchestra.  Upon retirement, Bill and Joyce moved to Rolla, MO to live near their daughter and family.  They joined son-in-law Dan’s church, Central Community Church of God.

          Bill’s pastimes were playing piano, listening to classical music, watching sports (especially the Cubs), slow pitch softball, tennis, table tennis, and card games.  Keeping in touch with past students of Catlin High and his fellow U.of A. band friends was important as well.  Serving as ball coach and starting his children in music, he encouraged them to develop skills that he himself enjoyed.

          Surviving are wife Joyce (Burgin), daughter Tricia (Dan) Phillips of Rolla, son Jason (Trish) of Washington state, 2 step grand children, and greatly adored grand daughters Emily and Elizabeth of Branson, MO.

          Predeceasing Bill were his parents and brother John (Heather) of Texas.