In Memoriam: Former Owner and President of Unist
Remembering the former owner and president of Unist, Wally Boelkins.
Posted: May 14, 2014
The former owner and president of Unist, Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI), Wally Boelkins, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, May 2.
Wally was a truly unique and well-known character who left an indelible legacy at Unist and in the industry. Wally spent over 40 years passionately building Unist into what it is today. He believed in the products he designed and was confident they could solve problems for many manufacturers. He traveled the world selling Unist products and was highly respected by both customers and competitors.
He was known for his warm personality, sense of humor, compassion for others, and his integrity. Wally was actively involved in Unist until 2009 when the onslaught of Parkinson’s disease finally started to slow him down. He will be deeply missed by not only his family, but also his employees who were like a second family.
Formed in 1957, Unist, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly lubrication systems and lubricants designed to reduce fluid consumption while improving operational efficiency in metal cutting and metal forming operations.