My DAD

Duane Malcolm Bolling

January 10, 1936 – February 6, 2026

Duane Malcolm Bolling of Rockford passed away February 6, 2026, at the age of 90. Born January 10, 1936, Duane spent most of his life in Rockford, Illinois with a later chapter spent in the neighboring town of Belvidere. He was proud to hit 90 so he could finally upgrade his "Ask an Octogenarian" business cards to "Ask a Nonagenarian.”

Duane was a 1953 graduate of Rockford East High School and earned his degree in physical education from Baker University in 1958. At Baker, he was a proud member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and played on the basketball team.

Duane’s career was as diverse as his interests. He began in the classroom, teaching and coaching, before moving into roles with Barber-Colman and Snap-On Tools. His love for sport eventually led him to TaylorMade, where he spent years on the LPGA circuit selling golf clubs. Later, he served the State of Illinois at the former Singer Mental Health Center. Even in "retirement," Duane couldn't sit still; he spent years as a part-time bank courier for Illinois Bank and Trust (formally Riverside Community Bank). He loved that role because it kept him active and gave him a chance to be out in the community, chatting with familiar faces and meeting new ones every day.

Duane had a lifelong passion for music, dancing, and genealogy, which led him to track his family history back to the American Revolutionary War, earning him membership in The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was also an avid collector with a sharp eye for value and a knack for finding things. His gifts were never random; he spent his time searching for specific items that matched the interests of the people he cared about. Every find was a deliberate way of communicating that he was thinking of you. He didn’t need a bigger reason than that.

Whether he was coaching on the court, teaching grandkids with those flash cards, or sharing a laugh with a stranger, Duane was a teacher at heart. He used his wit and lifetime of experience to bridge the gap with everyone he met. For Duane, razzing people was a sincere sign of affection and his unique way of making a connection.

To his daughter Stefanie, she was always his DDD—his Dearest Darling Daughter.

He is survived by his only daughter, Stefanie (Justin) Boyce; and granddaughter, Elliotte Boyce and his sisters, Sheila Cooper and Sheryl Johnson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ida Pearl (Locke) and H. Malcolm Bolling, baby sister, and his grandchildren, Jayden Boyce (2017) and Brooklyn Boyce (2018).

The family has chosen to honor Duane’s memory privately. There will be no public service or donations. He will be placed at rest with his family at Scandinavian Cemetery in Rockford.