James Dale Bollinger, 93, of Fort Wayne, died at 11:42 a.m. Friday, June 26, 2026 at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.

He was born September 3, 1932 in Cleveland Township, Whitley County, Indiana a son of Carl and Ruth (Judy) Bollinger. Jim attended school in South Whitley and graduated from South Whitley High School in 1950.

On January 14, 1951 he was united in marriage to L. Carleen Kehler. They made their first home in South Whitley.

On February 11, 1953 he was drafted into the United States Army serving during the Korean War. Following his basic training at Camp Rucker in Alabama, he served in Nuremberg, Germany. Following his honorable discharge on February 11, 1955, they lived in Fort Wayne until 1963 when they moved back to South Whitley. In 2005 they made their home on Sylvan Lake in Rome City until 2006 when they returned to Fort Wayne.

Jim worked in the printing trade his entire career and retired from Our Sunday Visitor – Noll Printing in 1995.

His memberships include United Methodist Church, American Legion, Typographical Union and AARP.

In addition to his wife of 75 years, Carleen, he is survived by three children, Michael (Shari) Bollinger of Fort Wayne, Ginger (Jon) Birt of Fort Wayne and Greta (Doug) Lude of Auburn; six grandchildren; two step grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

Jim was preceded in death by five sisters, Edna Striggle, Helen Lepley, Beulah Hunn, Dorothy Thomas and Irene Rash; and a brother, Eugene Bollinger.

The visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 1 at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 2 at the funeral home with visitation after 10 a.m. Thursday.

Burial will be at a later date at South Whitley Cemetery.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to Honor Flight Northeast Indiana.