Gerhard A. “Gary” Bohlmann, 91, of Chebanse passed away Sunday evening, May 20, 2018, at Butterfield Court in Kankakee following a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Friday, May 25, 2018 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Chebanse. Rev. Kene Whybrew will officiate. Friends may call on Thursday from 4:00 until 8:00 pm at the Knapp Funeral Home in Clifton and on Friday for 1 hour prior to the services at church. Burial with full military honors will be on Tuesday morning, May 29, 2018 at 10:30 am at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery at Elwood. Memorials may be made to the Clifton Food Pantry or Suzi-Q Foundation. Please share a memory of Gary at knappfuneralhomes.com.
Mr. Bohlmann was born on November 15, 1926 in Random Lake, WI, the son of Ernst and Amelia Zuengler Bohlmann. His parents are deceased as are two wives; one daughter, Susan Lord; one grandson, Nicholas; one sister, Irmgard Arndt; and two brothers, Walter and Donald Bohlmann.
Mr. Bohlmann is survived by three daughters, Cheri (Tim) Jones of Bonfield, Jean (Clyde) Meents of Chebanse and Beth Marth of Dublin, OH; three sons, Robert (Linda) Bohlmann of Ashkum, Steve (Ruth) Bohlmann of Tulsa, OK and Brian (Sharon) Bohlmann of Monument City, CO; 18 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Bohlmann operated a dairy farm in Wisconsin from 1949 to 1959 and at that time he moved to Illinois and stayed active in agriculture, becoming associated with Americana Seed Co. and ultimately became a District Manager for Americana Seeds in this area. He was a man of God and lived accordingly, he was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Chebanse and was very active in church affairs. He belonged to VFW Post 2131 of Chebanse and the Chebanse Lions Club. He enjoyed golfing and fishing. Mr. Bohlmann was a veteran of WW II and served with the US Army in the Pacific–Asiatic Theatre of operations most notably at Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Islands.
