John Joseph Bolebruch

Raleigh, NC – Long time Raleigh resident, John Bolebruch, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 12, 2019 surrounded by family. Born on June 18, 1931 to the late John and Gizela Bolebruch as the oldest of three siblings, the late Michael Bolebruch and Theresa Harding (Wayne), of Binghamton, NY. His beloved wife Elisabeth Walter Bolebruch predeceased him, a victim of cancer, in 2004.

John is also survived by his four children: son, John Bolebruch, of New York, NY, daughter, Mary Palmeri (Phil); son, Mark Bolebruch and daughter, Susan Hart, all of Raleigh, NC; by his six grandsons: Sean Bolebruch, Peter Bolebruch, Paxton Hart (Cesiley Burton), Philip Palmeri, Christopher Palmeri and Collin Palmeri; two great-granddaughters: Bella and Ellie; by sister-in-law: Dorothea Rogowski and niece and nephew: Monica Michielini and Walter Rogowski; and by other family and friends, including his neighbors. He was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law: Josef J. Walter.

John was a 1950 graduate of Johnson City, NY High School, joining the US Army soon thereafter and was deployed to Germany where he met his wife, whose family had been displaced as a result of the war. Coming home in 1954, he joined IBM Endicott as a technical artist. A year later he brought his wife’s mother, sister and brother to the States where they all resided and worked in Johnson City. In 1973 the family moved to Raleigh, NC where he retired from IBM in 1994 with 40 years of service.

John was a loving and generous family man, dedicated to his wife and children. He orchestrated many family picnics and excursions to the beach and area parks for weekends and vacations. He also enjoyed “puttering” around the house, as he was prone to say. He usually had many projects going at once in the yard or in his well-appointed shop where he demonstrated his expert woodworking skills.

Quite proud of his country and military service, John was passionate and committed to “all things military” as member of the US Army Reserves and then the NC National Guard as a Sargent First Class until his retirement. He was a student of military history and could regale anyone with war stories, both significant and trivial. John was also an avid collector of unique, antique military helmets, belt buckles and other types of accessories. He had a love of cars, restoring a 1964 Buick Skylark convertible to mint condition in his retirement and proudly showed it around the state as an active member of the Carolina Chapter of the Buick Club of America.

With no requirement for work or otherwise, John graduated from Broome Community College in Binghamton, NY in 1970, completing his course work at night while working full time and continuing in the reserves part-time. He said he wanted to show the way for his four children.

The family will receive friends from 6 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday evening at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh NC. A service will be held at 2 pm on Thursday, May 16th, in the funeral home chapel, with Military Honors to follow at Raleigh Memorial Park Mausoleum. A reception will be held at the family home afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, it would be John’s wish that donations be made to the VA Hospice Fund, Durham VA Health System, 508 Fulton St., Durham, NC 27705 or on-line below.