Russell R. Boland

Russell R. "Russ" Boland, 63, of Milford, KS passed away March 25, 2014 at Geary Community Hospital. Graveside services with military honors will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, March 31, 2014 at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery with Pastor Don Boyer officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, March 30, 2014 from 6p.m. to 8p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Mass-Hinitt Chapel.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions have been designated to Friends of Milford, P.O. Box 1242, Junction City, KS 66441 and Hospice at Geary Community in c/o Geary Community Health Care Foundation, P.O. Box 3015, Junction City, KS 66441.

Russ was born July 12, 1950, Bonne Terre, MO to Earl and Alma (Richey) Boland. He attended grade school at Coffman, MO before moving to Junction where he graduated from Junction City High School in 1968.

He went to work for Cummins Oil Company until he was drafted in January of 1970. He served in Vietnam from July of 1970 to July of 1971. Upon returning from Vietnam he was stationed back at Fort Riley, KS until January of 1973 when he was honorably discharged, he also spent one year in the National Guard in Junction City.

Russ then started his career with Pepsi Cola which ended in 2009 after 34 years. He then went to work at Contract Services for 2 years and he also ran his own lawn care business in Junction City. He spent 8 years on the Geary County USD 475 School Board (2002-2009), he was a member of the Friends of Milford, a volunteer group at Milford State Park for 18 years and a member of the VFW in Herington, KS.

Russ loved to play softball and tinker with race cars. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

He married Mary A. Jelen November 22, 1986 she survives of the home.

Other survivors include his father Earl Boland of Junction City, KS, his brother, Tom Boland of Junction City, KS, his sister, Jackie (Kerry) Ayers of Farmington, MO, his son, Rusty Boland, Jr. of Salina, KS, his daughters, Melissa Boland of San Diego, CA, Casie Boland and Shelby Boland of Milford, KS and Christina (Jim) Rice of Manhattan, KS, his half-sisters, Kelley Boland of Junction City, KS, Shannon (Tom) Rolfs of Milford, KS, step-sisters, Joyce, Jean and Debbie all of MO, and his half-brothers, Eric (Brenda) Boland, Brad (Heather M.) Boland, Jason (Heather J.) Boland all of Junction City, KS. His four grandchildren, Indy, Rita, Conner, Ari and Trent and 18 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Alma Griffith and step-father, Joe Griffith, step-mother, Janice Boland, cousin, Larry Thomure, daughter-in-law, Brenda Boland and nephew, Montana Boland.