BOLZ, RONALD JAMES - was born on January 23, 1943 in Norfolk, Nebraska to Otto August Bolz and Helen Aimee Kinne Bolz. He passed away on January 20, 2008 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
He spent his childhood years growing up on his parents' farm in Stanton County, Nebraska where he showed an early willingness to work hard. It was not unusual in the day for farm boys to be operating farm machinery alongside their fathers, or on their own on the tractor out in the fields. By the age of twelve his ability to hold his own with the men was such that he was put in charge of the spring field work while his father was hospitalized with a life threatening illness.
As an adolescent and teenager Ron became interested in automobile racing, a passion he pursued on the drag strip throughout his adult life. At the age of fourteen, he began driving himself to high school in town on a legal school permit for rural students. His "street rod" was a common sight cruising the streets after school before heading home to the farm for evening chores. The single local officer eyed him warily as he sped out of town for home, giving chase more than once, but to no avail.
He continued to farm with his father and run his own dairy business for five years after high school. By that time he was married to his high school sweetheart and together they had three sons. It was during this period of time he built his first race car to race on the drag strip in Sioux City, Iowa.
As it turned out, farming was not going to be his future forever and in 1965, after five years on the farm, the young family moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he began a career as an automotive machinist specializing in building racing engines. For the better part of the next twenty years he was employed in Omaha by Raceland, Inc. His work was widely respected among the area stock car and drag car owners and enthusiasts.
In 1986 he relocated to Wickenburg, Arizona with his second wife and opened his own machine shop business which he operated for several years. He later moved to Phoenix and took a position with Genuine Auto Parts, a position he retired from in 2003. Over the years, he continued to participate in the sport of drag racing wherever he lived earning the reputation of being a formidable competitor. His many honors include the one of which he was most proud, that of being a 1982 NHRA Winston Champion.
At the time of his passing, he had been residing in Knoxville, Tennessee for several years. He was proud to be the respected "old guy" still competing at the track. The sight of "Racer Ron" lining up in his red roadster and speeding down the track will be sorely missed.
His confirmation in the Lutheran Church at the age of thirteen provided him with a foundation for a faith that sustained him throughout his life. His frequently read Bible was beside his bed along with assorted automobile racing publications. He enjoyed conversations with his grandson on his Bible readings and would provide commentary on what the Bible had to say on various topics. He is survived by his three sons, Joseph Bolz of Bonner Springs, Kansas, Jeffrey Bolz and wife, Patricia Bolz-Saavedra of Basehor, Kansas, Bret Bolz and wife Gina Bolz of Knoxville, Tennessee; five grandchildren, Autumn Fryer, Daniel Bolz, Bret Bolz, Jr., Davinia Bolz-Saavedra, and Nathaniel Bolz-Saavedra; one great grandchild, Lily Bolz; his brothers, David Bolz of Omaha, Nebraska and Steve Bolz of Central City, Nebraska; a sister, Mary Bolz of Woodland, California; and a step-daughter, Julie Fargo of Albuquerque New Mexico. He is also survived by his first wife, Verna Troutman; his second wife, Janet Bolz and a host of friends and fellow competitors in the racing communities of Omaha, Phoenix and Knoxville. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family is planning a private memorial service. Arrangements are being handled by Cremation Options. Memorial donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation.
Published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on 1/27/2008.
He spent his childhood years growing up on his parents' farm in Stanton County, Nebraska where he showed an early willingness to work hard. It was not unusual in the day for farm boys to be operating farm machinery alongside their fathers, or on their own on the tractor out in the fields. By the age of twelve his ability to hold his own with the men was such that he was put in charge of the spring field work while his father was hospitalized with a life threatening illness.
As an adolescent and teenager Ron became interested in automobile racing, a passion he pursued on the drag strip throughout his adult life. At the age of fourteen, he began driving himself to high school in town on a legal school permit for rural students. His "street rod" was a common sight cruising the streets after school before heading home to the farm for evening chores. The single local officer eyed him warily as he sped out of town for home, giving chase more than once, but to no avail.
He continued to farm with his father and run his own dairy business for five years after high school. By that time he was married to his high school sweetheart and together they had three sons. It was during this period of time he built his first race car to race on the drag strip in Sioux City, Iowa.
As it turned out, farming was not going to be his future forever and in 1965, after five years on the farm, the young family moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he began a career as an automotive machinist specializing in building racing engines. For the better part of the next twenty years he was employed in Omaha by Raceland, Inc. His work was widely respected among the area stock car and drag car owners and enthusiasts.
In 1986 he relocated to Wickenburg, Arizona with his second wife and opened his own machine shop business which he operated for several years. He later moved to Phoenix and took a position with Genuine Auto Parts, a position he retired from in 2003. Over the years, he continued to participate in the sport of drag racing wherever he lived earning the reputation of being a formidable competitor. His many honors include the one of which he was most proud, that of being a 1982 NHRA Winston Champion.
At the time of his passing, he had been residing in Knoxville, Tennessee for several years. He was proud to be the respected "old guy" still competing at the track. The sight of "Racer Ron" lining up in his red roadster and speeding down the track will be sorely missed.
His confirmation in the Lutheran Church at the age of thirteen provided him with a foundation for a faith that sustained him throughout his life. His frequently read Bible was beside his bed along with assorted automobile racing publications. He enjoyed conversations with his grandson on his Bible readings and would provide commentary on what the Bible had to say on various topics. He is survived by his three sons, Joseph Bolz of Bonner Springs, Kansas, Jeffrey Bolz and wife, Patricia Bolz-Saavedra of Basehor, Kansas, Bret Bolz and wife Gina Bolz of Knoxville, Tennessee; five grandchildren, Autumn Fryer, Daniel Bolz, Bret Bolz, Jr., Davinia Bolz-Saavedra, and Nathaniel Bolz-Saavedra; one great grandchild, Lily Bolz; his brothers, David Bolz of Omaha, Nebraska and Steve Bolz of Central City, Nebraska; a sister, Mary Bolz of Woodland, California; and a step-daughter, Julie Fargo of Albuquerque New Mexico. He is also survived by his first wife, Verna Troutman; his second wife, Janet Bolz and a host of friends and fellow competitors in the racing communities of Omaha, Phoenix and Knoxville. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family is planning a private memorial service. Arrangements are being handled by Cremation Options. Memorial donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation.
Published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on 1/27/2008.
BOLZ, RONALD JAMES - was born on January 23, 1943 in Norfolk, Nebraska to Otto August Bolz and Helen Aimee Kinne Bolz. He passed away on January 20, 2008 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
He spent his childhood years growing up on his parents' farm in Stanton County, Nebraska where he showed an early willingness to work hard. It was not unusual in the day for farm boys to be operating farm machinery alongside their fathers, or on their own on the tractor out in the fields. By the age of twelve his ability to hold his own with the men was such that he was put in charge of the spring field work while his father was hospitalized with a life threatening illness.
As an adolescent and teenager Ron became interested in automobile racing, a passion he pursued on the drag strip throughout his adult life. At the age of fourteen, he began driving himself to high school in town on a legal school permit for rural students. His "street rod" was a common sight cruising the streets after school before heading home to the farm for evening chores. The single local officer eyed him warily as he sped out of town for home, giving chase more than once, but to no avail.
He continued to farm with his father and run his own dairy business for five years after high school. By that time he was married to his high school sweetheart and together they had three sons. It was during this period of time he built his first race car to race on the drag strip in Sioux City, Iowa.
As it turned out, farming was not going to be his future forever and in 1965, after five years on the farm, the young family moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he began a career as an automotive machinist specializing in building racing engines. For the better part of the next twenty years he was employed in Omaha by Raceland, Inc. His work was widely respected among the area stock car and drag car owners and enthusiasts.
In 1986 he relocated to Wickenburg, Arizona with his second wife and opened his own machine shop business which he operated for several years. He later moved to Phoenix and took a position with Genuine Auto Parts, a position he retired from in 2003. Over the years, he continued to participate in the sport of drag racing wherever he lived earning the reputation of being a formidable competitor. His many honors include the one of which he was most proud, that of being a 1982 NHRA Winston Champion.
At the time of his passing, he had been residing in Knoxville, Tennessee for several years. He was proud to be the respected "old guy" still competing at the track. The sight of "Racer Ron" lining up in his red roadster and speeding down the track will be sorely missed.
His confirmation in the Lutheran Church at the age of thirteen provided him with a foundation for a faith that sustained him throughout his life. His frequently read Bible was beside his bed along with assorted automobile racing publications. He enjoyed conversations with his grandson on his Bible readings and would provide commentary on what the Bible had to say on various topics. He is survived by his three sons, Joseph Bolz of Bonner Springs, Kansas, Jeffrey Bolz and wife, Patricia Bolz-Saavedra of Basehor, Kansas, Bret Bolz and wife Gina Bolz of Knoxville, Tennessee; five grandchildren, Autumn Fryer, Daniel Bolz, Bret Bolz, Jr., Davinia Bolz-Saavedra, and Nathaniel Bolz-Saavedra; one great grandchild, Lily Bolz; his brothers, David Bolz of Omaha, Nebraska and Steve Bolz of Central City, Nebraska; a sister, Mary Bolz of Woodland, California; and a step-daughter, Julie Fargo of Albuquerque New Mexico. He is also survived by his first wife, Verna Troutman; his second wife, Janet Bolz and a host of friends and fellow competitors in the racing communities of Omaha, Phoenix and Knoxville. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family is planning a private memorial service. Arrangements are being handled by Cremation Options. Memorial donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation.
Published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on 1/27/2008.
He spent his childhood years growing up on his parents' farm in Stanton County, Nebraska where he showed an early willingness to work hard. It was not unusual in the day for farm boys to be operating farm machinery alongside their fathers, or on their own on the tractor out in the fields. By the age of twelve his ability to hold his own with the men was such that he was put in charge of the spring field work while his father was hospitalized with a life threatening illness.
As an adolescent and teenager Ron became interested in automobile racing, a passion he pursued on the drag strip throughout his adult life. At the age of fourteen, he began driving himself to high school in town on a legal school permit for rural students. His "street rod" was a common sight cruising the streets after school before heading home to the farm for evening chores. The single local officer eyed him warily as he sped out of town for home, giving chase more than once, but to no avail.
He continued to farm with his father and run his own dairy business for five years after high school. By that time he was married to his high school sweetheart and together they had three sons. It was during this period of time he built his first race car to race on the drag strip in Sioux City, Iowa.
As it turned out, farming was not going to be his future forever and in 1965, after five years on the farm, the young family moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he began a career as an automotive machinist specializing in building racing engines. For the better part of the next twenty years he was employed in Omaha by Raceland, Inc. His work was widely respected among the area stock car and drag car owners and enthusiasts.
In 1986 he relocated to Wickenburg, Arizona with his second wife and opened his own machine shop business which he operated for several years. He later moved to Phoenix and took a position with Genuine Auto Parts, a position he retired from in 2003. Over the years, he continued to participate in the sport of drag racing wherever he lived earning the reputation of being a formidable competitor. His many honors include the one of which he was most proud, that of being a 1982 NHRA Winston Champion.
At the time of his passing, he had been residing in Knoxville, Tennessee for several years. He was proud to be the respected "old guy" still competing at the track. The sight of "Racer Ron" lining up in his red roadster and speeding down the track will be sorely missed.
His confirmation in the Lutheran Church at the age of thirteen provided him with a foundation for a faith that sustained him throughout his life. His frequently read Bible was beside his bed along with assorted automobile racing publications. He enjoyed conversations with his grandson on his Bible readings and would provide commentary on what the Bible had to say on various topics. He is survived by his three sons, Joseph Bolz of Bonner Springs, Kansas, Jeffrey Bolz and wife, Patricia Bolz-Saavedra of Basehor, Kansas, Bret Bolz and wife Gina Bolz of Knoxville, Tennessee; five grandchildren, Autumn Fryer, Daniel Bolz, Bret Bolz, Jr., Davinia Bolz-Saavedra, and Nathaniel Bolz-Saavedra; one great grandchild, Lily Bolz; his brothers, David Bolz of Omaha, Nebraska and Steve Bolz of Central City, Nebraska; a sister, Mary Bolz of Woodland, California; and a step-daughter, Julie Fargo of Albuquerque New Mexico. He is also survived by his first wife, Verna Troutman; his second wife, Janet Bolz and a host of friends and fellow competitors in the racing communities of Omaha, Phoenix and Knoxville. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family is planning a private memorial service. Arrangements are being handled by Cremation Options. Memorial donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation.
Published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on 1/27/2008.
Inscription
Ronnie Bolz has passed us by
to race the stars across the sky.
Time and space now are gone
with the dust of Racer Ron.
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