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March 26, 1931 ~ August 9, 2018
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Donald “Donnie” J. Bollich announces his passing on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, at Acadian Medical Center. He was 87.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 13, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Mowata. Rite of Committal will follow in the St. Lawrence Cemetery with Father Dan Edwards, celebrant.
Donald, known by many names by his loved ones, was a generous man with a big heart. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War, was an avid fisherman, hunter, and was a farmer in Potcove where he raised his family and received Outstanding Farmer of the Year award.
He met the love of his life, Willa Dean (Willie), at the Mowata Store that her parents owned.
Donnie’s shooting skills were legendary among hunters and he won many skeet shooting competitions.
Raising 10 children, Donnie found plenty of opportunity to pray. He instilled his faith into his entire family, was involved in the Cursillo, and was also a 4th degree knight in the Knights of Columbus.
He will be missed dearly by his wife of 64 years, Willie Dean Bollich of Eunice; sons, Kirk Bollich and wife Cindy of Potcove, David Bollich and wife Tarrel of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Andrew Bollich and wife Bonnie of Broussard, and Bobby Bollich and wife Courtney of Houston, Texas; daughters, Carolyn Bollich, Jeanne Corley and husband Claude, all of Lafayette, Angie Williamson and husband John of Port Republic, Maryland, Jackie Smith and husband John of Hughesville, Maryland, Barbara Bourque and husband Sterling of Eunice, and Geralyn “Boudin” Fruge and husband Mike of Prairieville; brothers, Gerald “Manny” Bollich and Greg “Honeybee” Bollich and wife Pat, all of Eunice; sisters, Clara “Tay” Miller of Iota, Sylvia “Tibbie” Lintzen of Eunice, Barbara “Penny” LeJeune and husband James “Tank” of Estherwood, Diane Elkins of Colorado, and Judy Hollier and husband Kenny of Lafayette; 41 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren and extended family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Barbara Zaunbrecher Bollich Jr.; brothers, Elmo, Will, and Larry Bollich; sisters, Loretta Cooper and Elaine Turk; granddaughters, Jeanne Dupre and Caroline Bollich; and great-grandchildren, the Monceaux triplets, Ethan, Evan and Aiden.
At the request of the family, visitation will be held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Eunice on Sunday, Aug. 12, from 3:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., and again on Monday, Aug. 13, from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
Deacon Reggie Bollich will lead a Rosary at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Family and friends may view this obituary and sign the guestbook at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com.
Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Eunice, 1301 W. Laurel Ave., (337) 457-3371, is in charge of arrangements.

Jim was born two days before Christmas in 1931. He died Aug. 8, 2018, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Jim was the sixth child of Rosina and Guy Cuccio in Crowley.
He had a long and happy life. He was devoted to family and a faithful Catholic. When he was 11, he had a pet rooster. He spooned peanut butter directly from the jar and never said no to chocolate ice cream.
Jim played all the sports in high school. He was a tackle in football, heavyweight boxer and center in basketball. In track, he threw shot-put and discus and was a catcher in baseball. He loved to play, accepting an “F” in P.E. in his senior year so he could play a fifth season of football.
He claimed to be 5’11”, although he thought of himself as 10 feet tall and bulletproof. He was not easily daunted. He was the guy standing on a rickety chair in Notre Dame Cathedral, photographing Mass.
He was the first in his family to go to college, graduating LSU in 1955 with a degree in electrical engineering. Jim worked as an early pioneer in the computer business at General Electric. He holds 30 computer-related patents, including fundamental inventions in TV-raster displays, electric keyboards, microcomputers and hard drives. He also worked at Honeywell, Seagate, Maxtor, Control Data and was a consultant. His original concepts are still in use in today’s personal computers.
Jim loved to travel, and his years in the Naval Reserve meant going to sea, including on the USS Iowa. He was a photographer, a gardener and enjoyed oil painting with a tiny, one-hair brush.
He met his first wife, Sue, at G.E. in Cincinnati. They had two daughters, Anne and Joan. In 2000, he lost Sue to cancer after 44 years of marriage.
During preparations for their 50th high school reunion, Jim reconnected with Lou. They married on Valentine’s Day 2001.They traveled widely, including to Israel and Nova Scotia.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Sue; and siblings, Eva Camalo, Catherine Rosetta, Vincent Cuccio, Guy Angelo Cuccio and Nick Joseph Cuccio.
Jim is survived by Lou, his wife of 17 years; daughters Anne and Joan and husband Morris Foster, and step-daughter, Kathleen and husband Calvin Doucet. He has four grandchildren, Emma, Mia, Henry and Rose; his godson, Guy Cuccio Jr.; and many other family members and friends.
The family is grateful for the love and care of his team of extraordinary caregivers who have helped him thrive despite years of illness.
Mass of Christian Burial was held 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 11, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 3939 W. Tecumseh Road, Norman.
Burial followed at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Norman.
Online condolences may be shared at www.tribute.care (405) 292-4787.