Rosemary Bolinger, 86, of 12 Wisteria Lane, North Manchester passed form this world on Sunday, July 22, 2018. She was the fifth of eight children born to the late Luther and Bernice (Sherburn) Brubaker on April 14, 1932. Following graduation from Laketon High School, she married Harold Bolinger, on June 4, 1950.
Harold preceded her in death on September 11, 2011. Rosemary and Harold were the parents of three children; sons Jeffrey (Judy) Bolinger, Thorntown, Indiana and Jerry (Mary) Bolinger, North Manchester and daughter, Cheryl (Kevin) Bolinger-McKirnan, Celina, OH. Grandchildren include Jeni (Matt) Slaven, Baldwin, MO, Jeremy (Allison) Bolinger, League City, TX, Andrew (Sarah) Bolinger, and Ashton Bolinger, North Manchester.
Great grandchildren include Colton Slaven and Sydney Slaven, Baldwin, MO. Surviving siblings include Nellie VanSickle of Lafayette, IN and Jerry Brubaker of LaPuente, CA. Four brothers, J.B, Lee, and Elmer, Larry Brubaker are deceased, as is one sister, Eileen Bolinger.
Rosemary was a member of the Eel River Community Church of the Brethren, Silver Lake, IN. She was active and past president of Church Women United. After beginning married life on a farm north of North Manchester, Harold and Rosemary became managers of Bolinger Furniture Store, North Manchester, and she created the 4 B’s music shop, selling music, instruments, and musical supplies.
Rosemary earned a bachelor’s degree in music and elementary education from Manchester College and a master’s degree in educational practices from Indiana University. During her teaching career, she taught music, kindergarten, first grade readiness, special education, and Indiana history. She was a teacher at Laketon, Chester, Sidney, and South Whitley elementary schools.
Her yearly themed musical productions at Sidney Elementary included all students in the school. She was instrumental in establishing working relationships between her elementary students and high school “buddies” in the areas of the industrial arts woodshop and home economics in the South Whitley school system. Along with the high school science and biology departments, Rosemary was involved in the creation of the school’s wetlands and outdoor nature lab and pioneer day at the log cabin.
Rosemary was an exchange teacher to Japan along with her sister Nellie. She shared her musical abilities as an active organist and pianist at Eel River Church of the Brethren, Liberty Mills Church of the Brethren, and Peabody Retirement home. She was a member of the Lake City Singers, The Peabody Entertainers, community band and choir.
She gave private piano, guitar, and accordion lessons for many years. She was also the director of two accordion bands. She delighted in playing the piano, organ, accordion, hammered dulcimer, vibraharp, clarinet, guitar, and various other wind and percussion instruments and sharing her music with others.
For 20 years, Rosemary has been an owner/manager of the Homestead Shop in an historic log cabin just north of Timbercrest Home in North Manchester. Family and friends may call Monday, July 30, 2018 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, IN. Funeral services will begin on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. with calling 1 hour prior at Eel River Community Church of the Brethren, 2507 East State Road 14, Silver Lake, IN 46982.
Pastor Kelly Beutler and Pastor Doug Reichenbach will officiate. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, 1013 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, IN. For those who wish to honor the memory of Rosemary Bolinger, memorial contributions may be made to Wabash Cancer Society, P.O. Box 144, North Manchester, IN 46962 or The Gideons International Processing Center, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090 Arrangements are entrusted to McKee Mortuary.
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