James Bolds (85) of St. Elmo

James Bolds, 85, of St. Elmo, IL. died at 6:48 a.m. Sunday, May 8, 2022, at his daughter’s home in New Berlin, IL.

Funeral services will be held at New Horizons Church, St. Elmo, on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 11:00 AM with David Feldkamp (his nephew) and Pee Wee Denton officiating. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery, St. Elmo. Visitation will be from 5-7 on Wednesday evening and one hour prior to the funeral service time on Thursday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Friends of the St. Elmo Park District, New Horizons Church or the donor’s choice. Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont is assisting the family with arrangements.

James was born on Friday, June 5, 1936 in Vandalia, IL to Clarence and Iris (Peters) Bolds. He married Betty Evans on May 9, 1959 at the First Baptist Church, St. Elmo. He was employed for many years at Altamont Wholesale Company and was retired from RP Lumber, Vandalia. He was a member of the New Horizons Non-Denominational Church. He was an ordained deacon in the Baptist Church. He was also a Sunday School Teacher for many years.

He is survived by; his wife of almost 63 years, Betty of St. Elmo; daughters, Terri (Ricke) Gillespie of St. Elmo and Susan (Michael) Cody of New Berlin; 5 grandchildren, Meghan (Dominic) Deters, Zach (Brianne) Gillespie, Erica (Derek) Beckman, Alex (Amy) Gillespie, Nicholas Cody and Jason (Daisy) Cody; 16 great-grandchildren (his babies), Gracie, Zayden, Jayce, Grayson, Quayde, Jackson, Maxwell, Henry, Stella, Riley, Reid, Ryder, Cyrina, Elloise, Isaac and Sam.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; brother, Robert Barnes; sister-in-law, Maybelle Barnes; and brother-in-law, Roy Feldkamp.

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