Roger Boelio

Roger R. Boelio, of Huntington Woods, passed away on July 29th after an 8-month battle with cancer. Born in Detroit, he was 66 years old at the time of his death. Service to family, community, country, and company were central to Mr. Boelio's life. He retired from General Motors in 2008 after 30 years with the firm, where he served as senior project manager and staff attorney in GM's worldwide real estate operations. Mr. Boelio's contributions to GM were often recognized, and in 1985 he was honored with the Chairman's Award for selecting and securing the Saturn plant site in Spring Hill, TN. Mr. Boelio received a JD from Wayne State University, an MA degree from the University of Detroit, and a BA from Michigan State. After graduating from Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, WI, in 1964, Mr. Boelio joined the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of Spec 5. His Army service sparked a life-long love for international travel. Stationed first in the U.S. Canal Zone Panama and then in the Republic of China Taiwan, he learned Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, the latter which he subsequently used during business trips to the People's Republic. Army and GM travel eventually took Mr. Boelio to 32 countries on 6 continents. Mr. Boelio was also a dedicated member of the Huntington Woods Volunteer Fire Company, and in 2012 was recognized in a proclamation from that city for his 26 years of service. He was most proud, though, of his four children. He is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth Packebusch Matthew, of Silver Spring, MD, and Katherine Boelio, of Huntington Woods, and two sons, Richard Boelio, of Chicago, IL, and Justin Boelio, of New York, NY; his sister, Jane Talia Makram of Farmington Hills; his brother, David Boelio Marsha, of Galway, NY; and his dear friend, Sandy Gabel, of Harbor Springs, MI. The visitation will be held Thursday 1-9 p.m. and service Friday 10 a.m. at the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 705 W Eleven Mile Road 4 blocks E of Woodward, Royal Oak. Mr. Boelio will be interred in the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI on Monday 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or a charity of choice. Please share your memories at www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com.