ROLLAND “ROLLIE” PRINCE
Rolland “Rollie” Prince, age 79, passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Bloomer.
He was born July 1, 1934 in the Town of Cooks Valley to Gilbert and Leona (Meinen) Prince. In 1952, after graduating from Colfax, Rollie started hauling lumber and coal for Inland Lumber Company and also started his career officiating sports, something he would do for the next 46 years. He married Lorena Schlender on June 29, 1957 at St. John’s in Cooks Valley. They then moved to Bloomer where Rollie took a job at Bloomer Quality Egg and then worked for Catalytic Combustion for 35 years, a job he really enjoyed doing. To say Rollie was active would be an understatement. He worked for the fire department for 28 years, serving as chief for 15 years, was a member of the Bloomer School Board and the City Council, officiated at the state baseball tournament as well as hundreds of baseball, softball, football and basketball games throughout his life, he was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church; where he served as an usher, Eucharistic Minister and lector, the Bloomer Lions, past president of the Wisconsin Fire Chief’s Association, park board, zoning committee, worked at Olson Funeral Home, volunteered at the Bloomer Pool and charcoaled tens of thousands of quarters of chicken. Rollie loved reminiscing, watching any sort of sporting event and was very proud of his children and grandchildren. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by one son: Greg (Anne) Prince of Elkhorn; one daughter: Debi Prill of Bloomer; siblings: Clyde Prince of Colfax and Jackie Oldenberg of Bloomer; five grandchildren: Eric, Ryan & Brent Prill of Bloomer, Justin & Adam Prince of Elkhorn, sisters-in-law: Sharon Steinmetz, Doris Prince.
He was preceded in death by his parents Gilbert and Leona; wife: Lorena; infant children: Mark and Jean Prince; siblings: Thomas, Denis Prince and Patricia Sumstad; in-laws: Dennis Oldenberg, Neil Steinmetz, Arnold Sumstad and Nancy Prince.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Bloomer. Visitation was held at Olson Funeral Home from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, 2014 and from 1:00-1:45 p.m. on Monday. There will be a Christian Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening. Interment will be in the Bloomer Cemetery following the service. Online condolences may be expressed at olsonfuneralhomebloomer.com