Jerry C. "Pig" Bollenbach

All who knew Jerry Pig Bollenbach would agree that he put the sparkle into the world around him. With an unlimited spirit of generosity as his constant companion, he never hesitated to help someone in any way he could, even if that meant that he went without. Jerry wasnt one to pretend to be someone he was not, and he also never made excuses for the person he was - or the person he wasnt when it came to his shortcomings. Jerry was a devoted father who treasured his role as a father, but he really came into his own as a grandfather as his grandchildren were his greatest source of pride and joy. We will miss his contagious sense of humor, his unmistakeable zest for life, and his soft heart toward animals, but it will be his unconditional love with no strings attached that will be his lasting legacy. The 1950s were a colorful time in American history when the cultural fabric of our nation was being transformed before our eyes. Civil rights came to the forefront when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus while the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union took shape as the decade drew to a close. The youth of our country was entertained with the Barbie doll and silly putty, and with our introduction to shows like I Love Lucy the way we saw the American family was never the same. It was within this eventful time that a young couple from Muskegon, Michigan, was delighted to welcome a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on June 29, 1954. Jerry Charles was the third of five children born to his parents, Charles and Maxine (Messer) Bollenbach, and he was raised in the family home in the East Broadway area of Muskegon alongside his siblings, Robert, Pam, Sheila, and Kelly. He was a student at local schools including Steele Jr. High, and Jerry went on to get his GED. A well known man in his community, Jerry, or Pig as he was sometimes known, was a self-taught and well-respected motorcycle mechanic who knew everything there was to known about Harley-Davidsons. Much of his career was spent as the owner, operator, and mechanic in his own shop, Broadway Cycle. This was a great career for Pig as motorcycles were his longtime passion. Although he enjoyed his work, there was nothing that was more important to Jerry than his family and his friends as his spare time was always spent with those he loved. He was blessed with his son, Jerry Johnson, in 1974, and he was a vital part of his sons life. As a father he was generous, giving, and caring in addition to being available for his son. Later in life Jerry was thrilled to become a grandfather, and he loved passing everything he knew about motorcycles on to his grandchildren. Priceless moments were shared when he taught them to ride, too. A man of great character and sound moral principle, Jerry also instilled timeless wisdom into his grandchildren including the importance of being their own unique person while foregoing the need to follow the crowd. He enjoyed family cookouts at Mike and Shellys on Memorial Day and unforgettable Thanksgiving dinners complete with biscuits being thrown down the entire length of the eight foot table! Jerrys close friends, Gary Doan, Bob Bisard, and Marv Flowers, treasured his optimistic spirit, his unconditional and loyal friendship, and his generous heart. He loved heading out for long motorcycle rides with trusted close friends whenever he could. One of the things that Jerry was most known for was his heart that beat to help others. He stayed close to family so that he could be there if he was needed in any way whether he was freely giving of his time or his resources - no questions asked. Jerrys door was always open for anyone who needed a place to stay as he was even known to pack up and move in with another family member to give his home to a family member in need of a place for his own family to stay. His devotion to others also extended to animals as he rescued numerous dogs through the years including his beloved bullet and Ollie. It was easy to spot Jerrys love for life from a mile away. It has been said that he had a childlike sense of humor as he loved to tease and laugh, all in the name of having fun. Jerry always preferred to spread laughter rather than to waste time and energy being angry. He liked to aggravate little kids, but in a fun way, and they always came back for more. There was nothing like watching Jerry ride his bike down Emerson Avenue, going as fast as he could with no helmet, his beard split down the middle from the wind, and a smile from ear to ear. In fact, his laughter could be heard above the sound of his bike, which made it clear that all was right with his world. A no frills sort of guy, Jerry Bollenbach was a blessing to countless others who were within his reach. There was no guessing when it came to Jerry as what you saw was exactly who he was. He was a free spirit who did things his own way without wasting his energy on worrying about what others thought. Jerry was spiritual, although not in a religious way, and his character was an inspiration to all who knew him. Beneath his signature black leather jacket was a heart nearly as endless as the sky is blue. His absence will be keenly felt by many, but his memory will never be forgotten. Jerry C. "Pig" Bollenbach died Wednesday, October 9, 2013. Jerrys family includes his son, Jerry Johnson of Muskegon; grandchildren, Racquel, Jerry, Jordan, Samara; brother, Mike (Shelly) Messer; sisters, Pamela Flowers, Sheila (James) Botten, Kelly Bollenbach; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert Barrett. Services will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2013, 7:00 p.m. at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon with Rev. Carlos Ramos officiating. Visit with Jerrys family and friends prior to the service on Saturday, 1-3 & 5-7 p.m. at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial contributions in Jerrys memory can be made payable to Clock Funeral Home to pay for expenses. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.