FRANCIS BOLTHUIS
May 22, 2020
Francis Fran Bolthuis, 88, of Grand Rapids, Mich., went home to be with his Lord on Friday, May 22, 2020, of natural causes.
Graveside services were held at Garfield Park Cemetery 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 29, 2020. A Celebration of Fran’s life will be held at a later date.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Martha (Bigford) Bolthuis and Kathleen (Jager) Bolthuis.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 14 years, Marjorie Jeltema; children, Steven (Dawn) Bolthuis, Julie Bolthuis, Heidi Vanderlaan, Katie (Jonathan) De Vries; stepchildren, Elleen (Tom) Fitzgerald, Mark (Jill) Jeltema, Paul (Jodi) Jeltema; 11 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and a brother, John Bolthuis.
Fran proudly served our country as a member of the US Army during the Korean War. He was a middle school band director and choral teacher for 45 years. From 1956 to 1972, Fran was a choir/English teacher at Southwest Christian High School. He played the trumpet into his 70’s. Fran was active in the Grand Rapids music community, and was one of the founders of the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band in 1978. He was also a church choir director for over 40 years.
