Gary Bolhouse

Gary Bolhouse was a man who was happiest on the water, on the deep blue of the big lake, the lake as wide as an ocean, the lake he filled with so many memories. He was a salesman by trade, but a captain by choice, and most certainly by birth. Gary was a loving son, husband, father and friend, but more than anything, he was a boat’s captain, and a man we were happy to follow.

Gary’s story began on a warm summer day in 1947, in the bustling city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were such exciting times in this country, as our heroes returned home victorious from World War II, anxious to claim their share of the American Dream. On June 24, 1947, George and Frances (Jankowski) Bolhouse celebrated the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Gary.

Gary was the only child born to his parents, who sent their son to St. Thomas Catholic School as a boy. As a little boy, his parents took him out to the beach at Holland and Grand Haven, where he enjoyed playing in the sand, but also fell in love with the beautiful boats he watched from the pier. He could watch them for hours, heading out from the channel to Lake Michigan, watching until they were just shining slivers of white against that endless sea of blue. “One day I’ll have a boat of my own,” Gary told himself.

When he was older, his parents bought a boat, as well, and his love of the lake became firmly anchored in his many days on the water with them.

When Gary was older, he attended Catholic Central High School, and also worked a variety of part-time jobs. Even at an early age, Gary was a hardworking young man, who believed in earning what he received. He graduated in 1965, and enrolled at Grand Rapids Junior College for a time, before heading off to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, to finish his schooling at Central Michigan University.

His degree in hand, Gary returned to Grand Rapids, where he and his father soon fulfilled a longtime dream, by starting their own charter fishing business in Spring Lake, called Bolhouse Fishing Charters. His dad managed the day-to-day operations of the business with Gary helping out on nights and weekends when he could.

Gary began working full-time as a salesman in the packaging industry, representing Grand Rapids Packaging, and later Great Lakes Triad. Eventually, he would finish his sales career at Georgia-Pacific, based in Owosso, Michigan.

Gary enjoyed his sales career and it helped him provide for his passion. His heart was always somewhere else, out on that deep blue water. Gary loved working with his dad, whether it was side-by-side on the boat, or even on separate boats.

In 1973, Gary made good on the promise to himself all those summers before, when he bought his first boat. He called her the “Laker II,” and he couldn’t have been prouder. He would replace her with several different boats over the years, but each bore the same name, the "Laker II".

Gary’s life was enriched by more than his love for boating, though. In the mid-70s, a friend introduced him to a wonderful woman named Nancy Gabe, a lovely schoolteacher in Grand Rapids. Gary and Nancy hit it off and soon began dating. The two fell in love, and were married in 1978, beginning many happy years together.

The newlyweds settled into a terrific home in northeast Grand Rapids, a home where they formed many memories, and the place Gary would live the rest of his days. It was also the place they would raise their family. The couple was blessed with two wonderful children over the years, Michael and Katie, who brought their father so much pride and joy.

Like his father did with him, Gary instilled a love for the water in his children at an early age. Summer vacations were always spent out on the water, heading north up the coastline in the "Laker II" together, often braving some very stormy seas. The family had many fond boating adventures together over the years.

Gary spent most of his summers out on the boat with his family and father, and most of the winter he spent working on the boat, as well. Yet Gary had other interests in his life, of course. He enjoyed hunting, and often went deer hunting with Mike over the years. He also cheered for the Detroit Lions and enjoyed spending time with his friends at the Polish Falcons, where he was a longtime member. But boating was Gary’s true passion and most of his greatest days were spent at the helm of his boat, his family or his many friends serving as his crew. Gary had many good friends and was a good friend to so many, a very loyal, fun-loving man.

Gary retired from sales in 2005, and began devoting most of his time to the charter fishing business. He joined many different fishing organizations over the years and was a member of the Michigan Steelheaders Grand Rapids Chapter, the Michigan Charter Boat Association, and the Grand Haven Charter Boat Association, too. He did fulfill another lifelong (and land-based) dream in 2007, when he treated himself to a beautiful, red 1995 Corvette!

Sadly, Gary became ill in the summer of 2007, and it was then discovered he had cancer. After several difficult months of brave battle, Gary died on Wednesday, December 19, 2007, at the age of 60.

Gary was a wonderful man, who lived a wonderful life, the life he promised himself he would have, and the life he worked so hard to earn. He was a loving son, husband, father and friend, who was happiest at the helm of his boat, his family by his side. More than anything, Gary was a proud ship’s captain and a man we were happy to follow. He will be greatly missed.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents George and Frances Bolhouse. Surviving are his wife of 29 years, Nancy (Gabe) Bolhouse, his children: Michael Bolhouse and Katie Bolhouse, his mother-in-law Louise (Leo) Lake, his sisters-in-law Sandy (Edward) Swanson, Kathy (Craig) Michaels and Betsy (Ken) Raby and nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Gary was retired salesman for Georgia Pacific and he operated Bolhouse fishing Charters of Grand Haven, with his father, for many years. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday at 11 A.M. at the Basilica of St. Adalbert. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with his family at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Van Strien – Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield N.E. Friday from 2-4 and 6-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Hospice of West Michigan or the American Cancer Society would be appreciated. To read more of Gary’s life, share a memory or sign the online register book please visit www.lifestorynet.com