Obituary for Mike Bolin

This obituary for Stan's classmate and long-time friend appeared in today's StarTribune.

Bolin, Michael John

Sept. 27, 1947 - Nov. 17, 2012 Alexandria, MN St. Paul, MN 
Beloved Soul Mate, Brother, Uncle & Friend.
Born and raised in Alexandria, MN, Michael graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN 1969 and N.W. Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN 1972. 
Michael was an extraordinary visual artist: easel painter, scenic painter, Trompe l'oeil artist, muralist, designer, and publisher and finder of "Boint" only printed matter. He was freelance scenic charge painter (w/Debra) for Christmas, Flower, and Fashion Shows at Dayton's downtown Mpls store from 1980-2000 and the Minnesota Opera Company from 1990-2005. He also painted many private and public commissions.
 Preceded in death by his loving parents, Floyd & Lois Bolin. Survived by life partner of 32 years, Debra Jensen; brother, Stan (Ginger) Bolin of MT; nephews, Chas Bolin of MT and Brock (Megan) Bolin and their sons Nathan and Cameron of CO; as well as many cousins and friends. 
A celebration of Michael's life will be held Friday, Dec. 14, 5-9 PM, Remembrance at 7 PM at the Acme Academy of Arts, 937 W. 7th St., St. Paul 55102. Memorials to donor's choice. Rest in Peace. Isle of View.

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We'll be there, eager to see the life celebration at the Academy of Arts and remember this talented, gifted fellow.

Mike Bolin single-handedly got Stan Rolfsrud elected to the Concordia College Student Senate in 1965. They were both freshmen at the time, no one knew either of them, certainly not enough to cast a vote for Stan. 
Most Senate candidates hung pathetic magic markered signs on tagboard around campus in all the ordinary approved places, beseeching fellow newbies to please vote for them.

Mike painted a commercial-grade mural for his friend, stretched on a huge swatch of canvas purloined from the art department. "Vote for Stan" it shouted in a bold, swashy font. While the paint on the huge letters was still wet, as a final touch, Mike sprinkled on some glitter.
In the dark of night, using ropes and sandbags, Stan and his pal John Seim sneaked to the roof of the Student Union and suspended the masterpiece for all to see on their way to class the following morning. Mike's incredible sign, sparkling in the sunlight, definitely created a buzz for the next few days, and when it came time to vote, enough did what the sign told them to do to put Stan into office as a Student Senator for two years. 
There he voted consistently to make dancing legal on campus, to no effect.