Hastings resident Jon Bohlke, age 73, passed away from meningitis on April 19, 2016, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE. Born June 22, 1942 to the Hon. W. Halsey and Ruth Golgert Bohlke, Jon graduated from Hastings High School in 1960. He received a BA degree from Hastings College in 1964 and an MBA degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1966. He married Ardyce Linn Gidley on Feb. 4, 1967, and they raised two sons. Ardyce passed away on Feb. 21, 2013.
On Nov. 21 2015, he married Anne Bratton Fairbanks in Hastings, and they made their home here until his death.
Jon was a retired farmer and worked briefly as a stockbroker in the late 1960s. He belonged to First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder and was part of the chancel choir and bell choir. He was member of Chorus of the Plains, and of the Boards of CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates for children), Hastings Symphony Orchestra, Hastings Public Schools Foundation, and MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art). For his entire life, his generosity, his love of learning, and his dedication to music made this community a better place.
Jon was preceded in death by his parents and brother Dana Bohlke. He is survived by his wife Anne; sons and spouses Jon and Corrina Bohlke of Bainbridge Island, WA, and Jason and Stacey Bohlke of Hastings, NE; grandchildren Nick and Emma Bohlke of Bainbridge Island, WA, and Joshua, Allison, and Brooke Bohlke of Hastings NE; step-children and spouses Liz Fairbanks Creech and Lance Creech of Hastings, NE, and Catherine Fairbanks and David Zuttermeister of Los Angeles, CA, and step-grandchildren Christian and Connor Creech of Hastings, NE; sister Julie Bohlke of Hastings, NE, sister-in-law and spouse Sharon and Dr. William Griffin of Omaha, NE, niece Melissa Marvin and spouse Geoffrey Hartig of Omaha, NE, nephews and spouses Barney and Mickey Marvin of Omaha, NE, Dr. Todd Nelson and Dr. Meg Testa of Cleveland, OH, Dr. Riley Nelson and Sandra Gomez of Albequerque, NM, Chad and Megan Nelson of Santa Fe, NMlb, and several cherished grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
The funeral service will be held Friday, Apr. 22, 2016, at 10:00 am at First Presbyterian Church with the Pastor Don Canady officiating. Private family burial will be in Parkview Cemetery. A luncheon at First Presbyterian Church will follow. Memorials may be given to CASA, MONA, or the Ardyce Bohlke Scholarship administered by the Hastings Public Schools Foundation. There will be no viewing or visitation.