Pastor John E. Boll, beloved husband, father, grandfather

BOLIVAR — Pastor John E. Boll, 89, of Bolivar, passed away Tuesday (July 28, 2026) at home, after a lengthy illness.

Born Nov. 2, 1936, in Lititz, Pa., he was a son of the late Norman and Naomi Burkholder Boll. He was married to Anna Lois Good at Chestnut Hill Mennonite Church near Columbia, Pa., on Sept. 1, 1962.

John grew up on a farm and later worked 15 years at Long & Bomberger Building Supply in Lititz and 11 years at Hamilton Equipment in Ephrata, Pa., as a paint salesman covering eight counties west of Harrisburg, Pa.

While living in Lititz he was a member of Hammer Creek Mennonite Church, where served as a song leader and Sunday school teacher for many years.

In December of 1982, he moved his family to Bolivar. He was sent by the Hammer Creek Church as a church planter at Kossuth Community Chapel, and was pastor there for 27 years. While pastoring he worked part time for Pete-Za-Ria Pizza Co. of Portville and 12 years for Shaner Apartments in Wellsville and Cuba as a painter and five years in maintenance.  Last, he worked for Agway Feed and Garden Store in Allegany.

After retirement he enjoyed serving the Lord by ministering to people in the community.

He is survived by his wife, Anna Lois of Bolivar; two sons, Wendell (Sharon) Boll of Bolivar and Lamar Boll of Wellsville; two grandchildren, Jacob (Elizabeth) Boll of Des Moines, Iowa and McKayla (Andrew Taylor) Boll of Bolivar; a great-granddaughter Kahlin Taylor; a brother, Ray (Verna) Boll of Ephrata; a sister, Martha (Marlin) Nissley of Lititz; a sister-in-law, Roseanna Boll; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by three brothers, Warren (Margaret) Boll, Paul (Carol) Boll and Mark Boll; and two sisters, Verna (Samuel) Brubaker and Reba (John) Sensenig.

Friends will be received from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 6, 2026) at the at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 554 S. Main St., Bolivar. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday (Aug. 7, 2026) at the Obi Community Church, 1960 Route 305 Cuba, with an additional hour of visitation form 10 to 11 a.m. Pastor Marlin Miller will officiate. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. in Maple Lawn Cemetery, Bolivar.

Donations may be made to Kossuth Mennonite Church for Destination International Missions, 7150 Kossuth Road, Bolivar, NY 14715.