Karin Bolich

Karin Bolich, 83 of Jerome, passed away at her home on August 27, 2023, surrounded by family. She was born January 7, 1940, in Berlin, Germany to Werner and Käthe Loechelt. 

Growing up in post-war Germany, she trained to be a seamstress before eventually finding work at the Bad Nauheim Army PX, where she met the love of her life, Stanley Bolich. After a short courtship, Stanley was called home to take care of the family farm and brought Karin with him to Jerome, Idaho. On January 2, 1965, the two were married in a small ceremony, in front of family and friends. They would be committed to each other for the next 58 years. Together they raised three children, Eric, Ty, and Gayle. 

Over the years, Karin’s deep compassion and warmth led her to be active in the community, giving freely of her time to such groups as the Campfire Girls, Job’s Daughters, Eastern Star, VFW Auxiliary and most recently American Legion Auxiliary Post 46. She was a devoted housewife but sometimes worked as a seamstress sewing flight attendant uniforms for Hughes Air West; she also worked for St Benedicts Family Medical Center, Honkers Mini-Mart, and the US Post Office. Everywhere she went, Karin made friends with her quick smile and glowing kindness. 

Karin is best known among her many friends for her fierce love of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She loved sewing, quilting, cooking, gardening, and canning. Anyone who visited her home was welcomed with a smile and well-fed, whether they were hungry or not, and often sent home with a loaf of Amish friendship bread or a jar of homemade jam. For the past ten years, she has found the most joy in her family gathering around her and Stanley at the family farm for Sunday lunch.

Karin is preceded in death by her parents, her step-father Franz Arnold, two brothers Manfred Loechelt and Lothar Arnold, and sisters-in-law Bärbel Arnold and Judy Bolich Lowry.

She is survived by her husband, Stanley Bolich, and her children and grandchildren: Eric (Amanda) Bolich of Jerome, his children, Nickole (Patrick) Mellon of Jerome, Kelly (Gabrielle) Bolich of Jerome, Noah (Megan) Bolich of Spartanburg, SC; Ty (Jenifer) Bolich of Twin Falls, his children Jasmine Bolich of Burbank, CA, Tasha Bolich of Burbank, CA, Maciey Canoy of Twin Falls, and Grayson Byrd of Seattle, WA; Gayle Bolich and her children Landon Hall of Chickasa, OK, and KateLyn Bolich-Hall of Jerome; ten great-grandchildren, brother Jurgen (Marion) Arnold of Berlin, Germany, sister Ute Arnold-Pioch of Germany and step-sister Angelika Arnold-Marx of Germany, and numerous family members still in Germany.

A celebration of life will be held at 715 East 170 North, Jerome, on Monday, September 18 at noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Idaho State Veterans Home Boise, 320 Collins Rd, Boise, ID 83702.