Berton Bolyard, Jr.

Bolyard, Berton Jr. Berton Bolyard Jr. 96, passed away at Heritage Community Hospice on November 30th, 2016. Uncle Bert, as his family and close friends called him, was born October 31,1920 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Berton Luther and Anastasia (Wilmot) Bolyard. After winning a music scholarship Bert attended Northwestern University where he majored in business along with his music studies. Together with his wife Miriam (Lemke) Bolyard, Bert moved to Kalamazoo where they opened, operated and sold a chain of dry cleaning establishments. Bert a jovial and energetic soul enjoyed family, music, nature, and flying. He spent his free time visiting California family, Michigan friends, listening to and supporting the Kalamazoo fine arts, walking the local nature trails, and flying private airplanes through the Michigan skies, ultimately volunteering at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo. Bert is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Miriam, and his sister Kathleen Ericson (Willard), La Habra, California. He is survived by two nephews: Thor Ericson (Janice), California and Kim Ericson (Laura), Kansas, three nieces Dawn Ericson Navarro, California, Sona Ericson McCoy (Mike), California, Tanya Ericson Kent (Jeff), California as well as, many great-nieces and great-nephews. He is also survived by friends in Kalamazoo and other Michigan communities Uncle Bert your youthful humor and mischievous demeanor will be missed by all. A memorial service is planned for the spring of 2017. Memorial gifts in memory of Uncle Bert can be made to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, 6151 Portage Rd. Portage, MI 49002. To share written memories or tributes, please visit: https://lahabraericsons.wordpress.com/bert-bolyard/