It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Larry Robert Bollmann, 76, of Loleta and his wife Suzanne Louise Bollmann, 74, of Loleta. Larry passed away suddenly at home on Saturday, December 10, 2022, and Suzanne passed 21 days later on December 31, 2022. After 54 years of marriage, not even death could keep them apart.

Larry was the first-born child of Robert and Melba Bollmann, born on October 22, 1946, in Rhode Island. He had three younger sisters and four younger brothers. Larry grew up in Eureka and graduated from Eureka Senior High School in 1964. He then attended California State University Humboldt from Spring 1971 - Fall 1974 as an undergraduate, completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology on December 13, 1974. He also attended as a graduate student from 1975 to 1976.

Born on November 23, 1948, in Eureka, Suzanne was the youngest child of Gregory Felt Pierce and Louise Isabelle Jones Pierce. Suzanne had an older brother, Larry Gregory Pierce. Suzanne also grew up in Eureka and attended Eureka Senior High School and graduated in 1966.

Larry and Suzanne were married at St. Bernard Catholic Church in 1968 in Eureka. They celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in September of this year. They have two sons, Timothy Robert Bollmann and Joseph Gregory Bollmann.

Larry and Suzanne opened Bollmann’s Taxidermy in 1978 where it remained open until they retired in 2014. Larry also created and sold Bollmann Tanning Cream, a product used during the taxidermy process. Larry had the honor of contributing to the book The Breakthrough Mammal Taxidermy Manual written by Brent Housekeeper and Jim Hall. Suzanne did all the bookkeeping at the taxidermy office, as well as the bookkeeping for her family’s business, E.W. Pierce Company.

Larry and Suzanne were members of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. They spent many years raising Thoroughbred horses and traveling all over the country for horse races. Larry spent many hours on the road with his horse trailer delivering mares to farms all over California. Larry & Suzanne were also co-owners of Oak Leaf Productions, which brought many country music concerts to the area in the mid-1990s.

Larry was preceded in death by his father Robert Bollmann, his mother Melba Bollmann, brother Mark Bollmann and sister Laura Bollmann. Suzanne was preceded in death by her husband Larry, her father Gregory Felt Pierce, mother Louise Isabelle Pierce and older brother Larry Gregory Pierce.

Larry and Suzanne were kind, genuine people who were well known and respected in their community. As parents, nothing brought them more pride than watching their sons succeed and accomplish their goals in life. Larry and Suzanne’s life together was a true partnership and their passion was working together on numerous projects, whether it was for the business, the horses, or their home.

Larry and Suzanne are survived by their oldest son, Tim (Amber) Bollmann of Redding, their youngest son, Joe (Kristina) Bollmann of Fortuna, Larry’s sisters Linda (Mike) Grundman of Eureka and Polly Fuller of Redding, and his brothers Rick (Jacque) Bollmann of Spaulding, Chris (Kate) Bollmann of Fairfield, and James (Anne) Bollmann of Texas. They are also survived by Suzanne’s two dear cousins Denise (Chuck) Worth of Chico and Kent (Alice) Pryor of Pleasanton. Because Suzanne didn’t have a very large family, her cousins were very special to her. Larry and Suzanne also have four grandsons, Lane Bollmann of Redding, Robert (Charis) Bollmann of McKinleyville, Jace Bollmann of Ontario, Oregon and Jackson Bollmann of Redding.

Larry and Suzanne were cremated by Humboldt Cremation & Funeral Services. A potluck celebration of life will be held at Larry and Suzanne’s home on Saturday, March 25, 2023 from noon to 3 p.m. 

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Larry and Suzanne Bollman’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.