Rest in Peace, Mike

Mike Bolin (back row with open shirt) celebrated a mini-reunion with
Jefferson High School classmates in our basement three years ago.

Mike Bolin, long-time St. Paul resident and noted artist in the Twin Cities area, died Saturday in hospice. He was Stan's classmate, a 1965 graduate of Jefferson High School in Alexandria as well as Concordia College in Moorhead. He attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul.
A talented artist, he created many of the wonders of the Dayton's Eighth Floor Christmas exhibition during the years it was a must-do part of the holidays for Minnesotans. His work also appeared in the restoration of the Foshay Tower as well as at the Mall of America.
He is the second son of the late Floyd and Lois Bolin of Alexandria, and is survived by his brother, Stan Bolin.
Other details of his passing and funeral arrangements are not presently available.

Good morning Stan,

Mike spoke fondly of his friends and youth in Alexandria.  We became friends in the 1970's.  Twin Cities Public Television has archived and posted on its website a profile/essay that I produced with Mike for the weekly arts magazine Wyld Ryce.  I am sure you will enjoy it.  To my great admiration, Mike lived without a computer or cell phone at least until two years ago when we last got together in Saint Paul with L.K. Hanson, a long-time artist and cartoonist at the Star Tribune.  We hung out together during the mid-1970's in Saint Paul galleries, apartments, saloons and studios.

Here's the link -

http://www.mnvideovault.org/advanced_search_results.php?keywords=bolin+&phrase=&keywords_OR=&keywords_remove=

Jeff Strate
Eden Prairie, MN