Donald L. Bollenbacher, 87, of Rockford, Ohio, died early Sunday morning in Van Wert, Ohio, at the In-Patient Hospice Center.

Don was born on April 17, 1929, in New Corydon, Indiana, the son of Victor and Martha (Fahncke) Bollenbacher.

Don graduated from Rockford High School in 1947, and on June 18, 1950, he married F. Eileen Luth, who survives in Rockford.

Don was a life-long farmer, and lived the majority of his life in the area. For 35 years he was a co-owner of Bollenbacher Drainage of Rockford.

Don was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Rockford, and was an active member of the Men's Fellowship and served on the Consistory at the church. He also was a member of Shanes Lodge #377 F & AM in Rockford, and he and Eileen spent many enjoyable years square dancing with the Tri-Squares Dance Club in St. Marys, Ohio; they also danced with the Pioneer Squares in Rockford.

He enjoyed working with Tom Robbins at local auctions. He and Eileen had also been members of the Mercer County Farm Bureau. Don was a devoted family man, and perhaps his greatest joy was spending time with his 9 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Eileen, are 3 daughters and one son: Charlene (David) Stephenson of Rockford; Joyce (Douglas) Laukhuf of Haviland, Ohio; Diane (Grady) Shaner of St. Marys, Ohio, and David (Vicki) Bollenbacher of Rockford. Don has 9 grandchildren who survive: Bryan (Kathy Thorpe) Stephenson, Rockford; John (Kelly) Stephenson of Rockford; Amy (Billy) Heilshorn, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Trent (Casey) Laukhuf, Van Wert, Ohio; Scott (Erin) Laukhuf, Haviland, Ohio; Grant (Stephanie) Shaner, St. Marys, Ohio; Marcy (Vince) Stanger, Noblesville, Indiana; Derik (Kayla) Bollenbacher, Rockford, Ohio; and Devin (Gena) Bollenbacher, also of Rockford, and 20 great-grandchildren. Two brothers survive: Jerome Bollenbacher of Rockford and Clifford (Laurabel) Bollenbacher of Marion, Ohio; one sister-in-law survives: Ruby Bollenbacher of Celina, Ohio.

Deceased is a brother, Lloyd Bollenbacher a sister, Jane and her husband Vernon Luginbill and a sister-in-law Ruth Bollenbacher.

Services for Don will be held on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, on Oregon Road, outside of Rockford. Officiating will be Rev. Mark Rutledge; burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Friends may call on Tuesday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, from 2-8 p.m. There will be one hour viewing on Wednesday at the church from 10:00 a.m. up until the time of the service at 11:00.

Memorials may be directed to the Community Health Professionals of Van Wert, Ohio, or to St. Paul's United Church of Christ.

Condolences may be expressed at ketchamripley.com.