Bernice M. Bolander (91) of Newton

Bernice M. Bolander, age 91, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 10:25 PM Saturday, December 12, 2020, at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Effingham, Illinois.

Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held with Fr. Dean Probst celebrating mass. Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. In loving memory of Bernice, memorials maybe made to the St. Thomas School c/o Sharon Ghast 10150 East North Lake, Newton, Illinois 62448. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left by clicking here.

Bernice was born on October 29, 1929 in Island Grove, Illinois, the daughter of Leo and Margaret Meinhart. She married Harold A. Bolander on October 7, 1950, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Island Grove, Illinois, and he preceded her in death on May 24, 2015.

Bernice was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Newton, Illinois. She enjoyed reading, tending to her flowers and garden. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

Bernice is survived by: Children -- Larry (Amy) Bolander of Houston, Texas; Diane (Mike) Bunton of Newton, Illinois; Susan (Bruce) Jacobson of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Sharon Ghast of Newton, Illinois; Grandchildren – Amanda (Eric) Hayes, Shana Bolander, Merissa Bunton, Elizabeth (Matt) Magdich, Matthew (Abbey) Jacobson, Wes Jacobson, Clint (Laura) Ghast and Megan (Roger) Sugrue; Great-Grandchildren – Alex Ghast, Jackson Ghast, William Ghast, Samuel Ghast, Patrick Ghast, Evan Sugrue, Owen Sugrue, Ella Sugrue, Ian Hayes and Kalman Magdich; Sister - Betty Kennedy Tuscola, Illinois; Sisters-in-law - Loretta Meinhart of Montrose, Illinois; Georgianna (Ralph) Weber of Wakefield, Illinois and Rosetta Bolander of Newton, Illinois.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; husband Harold; son-in-law Brad Ghast;  brothers Donald Meinhart and Harold “Butch” Meinhart; and a sister Lucille Grimm.