Obit: Boe, Gerald J. (1938 - 2017)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Boe, Bora, Dumler, Grammatikopoulos, Kitzerow, Langseth, McLeod, Matter, Mitchell, Nowak, Polzin, Rindfliesch, Thompson, Winters

----Source: Life Tributes (Spencer, WI) 7/07/2017

Boe, Gerald J. “Jerry” (8 MAR 1938 - 5 JUL 2017)

Gerald J. “Jerry” Boe, age 79, of Spencer, passed away early Wednesday morning, July 5, 2017 at his residence with loving family members at his bedside.

A Celebration of Jerry’s Life conducted by his children will be held at 7 PM on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer. His family invites relatives and friends to gather on Tuesday at the funeral home from 4PM until the time of service. All are encouraged to share fond memories of Jerry with those attending. Military honors conducted by American Legion Post 54 of Marshfield will follow the services. His family will hold a private committal service at a later time.

Gerald Joseph “Jerry” Boe was born March 8, 1938 in Greenwood to Joseph and Leona Boe. He attended Greenwood Elementary School until moving with his family to Spencer. His education then continued at Spencer High School. Jerry joined the United States Army completing basic training in Missouri. He was stationed at Fort Dix in New Jersey assigned to the Nike Missile program from 1956 - 1958. While stationed in New Jersey, he found his future bride, Jacqueline Mitchell. They were united in marriage on Dec. 17, 1959. Following that union, Jerry immediately whisked her back to Wisconsin.

Jerry and Jackie made their homes in Marshfield and Spencer, raising their 5 children.  Jerry’s many jobs included employment at Roddis Doors in Marshfield and Land-O-Lakes Cheese Division in Spencer. He spent many years doing the fuel route for Midland Cooperative and then transferring to the Feed and Grain Division from where he retired. Along with working his full-time jobs he often supplemented his income with part-time jobs which included hauling milk and bartending in both Marshfield and Spencer. Jerry and Jackie operated Boe’s Bar in Spencer where they sponsored pool and bowling teams and made lifelong friends.

“Summer Family” was added to these friends when Jerry and Jackie began spending the weekends at a cabin rented in Edgewater, north of Rice Lake, near Birchwood. Jerry was most at home being outdoors, as a boy spending time with his horses, working at the family farm. He was busy cutting wood for heating his homes, planting a huge garden, tending to the campfire at the cabin, relaxing in the boat at Lake Chetac, catching walleyes and bluegills for a home cooked fish fry and of course taking great pride in mowing his lawn.

Jerry was so giving to his family, friends and neighbors. His new indoor hobby became baking and making homemade soups. He’d shared the bounty of his garden as well as homemade granola bars and gluten free muffins he made special for the family. If you stopped to visit you would get a cup of hot coffee, a cookie and a container of soup to take home with you, that is if he didn’t deliver it to your door. His apple pies came to rival those made by his mother. He could tell a story that would make you laugh till you cried. His quick wit could add laughter to most any situation.

He will be dearly missed by all that knew him. His children: Karen (Rick) Dumler of Marshfield, Wanda (Doyle) McLeod of Leakesville, MS. Joe (Mary Jo) of Neillsville, Tony (Chele) of Chilton, Eric (Roxanne) of Kronenwetter; His grandchildren: Jennifer (Dimitri) Grammatikopoulos, Kristopher and Rhiannon Dumler, Coty (Susie) McLeod, Jade McLeod, Megan (Greg) Polzin and Kalib (Jen) Boe, Bailey (Dilon) Kitzerow, Hunter Boe, River Boe, Orion and Aidenn Boe. Great-grandchildren Dante, Dominic, Aliyah, Grayson, Pieper, Olivia, Mariah, Julianne, John, Jasmine, Charli, Khade and Rhyse; his siblings: Sally (Eugene) Rindfliesch, Mae Winters, Teddy (Christa) Boe, Patty (Joe) Matter all from Spencer and Peggy (Roger) Thompson of Tomahawk.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jackie, a sister Betty Nowak, his brother-in-laws: Chuck Winters, Edward Langseth, Donald Bora, his sister-in-laws: Cindy Langseth and Doreen Bora; his nephews: Lars Langseth, Douglas Rindfliesch, Keith Bora and a grandson Joseph Boe.

Dad, we love you as much as you loved all of us. We are at peace knowing you’re with Mom now and will be spoiling “Buttons” with her. Thanks for teaching us all that “a little hard work never hurt anyone”. We know there’s no such thing as chopper mittens in Heaven!

His arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer.

Visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com.