Bill Boltres was born on April 7, 1936 in Canton, Ohio and passed away May 18, 2011 at Munson Medical Center, Traverse City, Mich.
He was born to the late Henry William and Sarah A. (Osinski) Boltres. After high school, Bill joined the U.S. Army and spent two years in Germany before returning to Northern Ohio. He married Doris Jean Kaufman on Aug. 9, 1958 and together raised two children. Bill spent four years in sales with Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation of Cleveland before leaving to pursue his passion for the outdoors. In 1965 he became a Conservation Officer for the Ohio Division of Wildlife, eventually serving in Licking County. A 21-year resident of Granville, Bill left the Ohio Division of Wildlife, 10 years to the day after he had started, to focus on his growing interest in real estate sales. Soon after, he would establish his own firm, The Boltres Company. Real estate led Bill to many business clients, some national and international, in numerous industries where he provided management consulting services beyond real estate transactions. In 1989, he relocated to Traverse City where he continued consulting for a time, would become a Case Trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and later Township Treasurer for Acme Township (2004-2008).
Bill was a lifelong outdoorsman, grouse hunter and fisherman. He loved to explore whether by car, boat or on foot. He celebrated good food including morel mushrooms and wild asparagus that he would hunt every spring. He was a dog enthusiast having owned, bred and raised countless German Wirehaired Pointers before transitioning to English Setters. A love for the outdoors, wildlife and all things natural was his way of teaching his children many life lessons. Acts of kindness over the years are reminders to the family of his gentleness despite a sometimes gruff exterior.
Surviving Bill is Doris, his wife of 52 years; son, Martin (Debbie) Boltres; grandchildren, Calloway and Jordan; daughter, Christine (Craig) Lauderdale; grandchildren, Charlotte and Christopher; brother, Thomas Boltres; and many other loving family members and friends. Bill is preceded in death by his parents; brother, John; and beloved dog, Maggie.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2011 at the First Congregational Church with visitation beginning one hour earlier. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Acme Shoreline Preservation Fund, c/o Acme Township, 6042 Acme Road, Williamsburg, MI 49690, or First Congregational Church, 6105 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686. Please sign Bill’s online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.