Obit: Boe, Gerald J. #2 (1938 - 2017)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

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

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/12/2017

Boe, Gerald Joseph “Jerry” (8 March 1938 – 5 July 2017) With Flag

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

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 to 1958. While stationed in New Jersey, he found his future bride, Jacqueline Mitchell. They were united in marriage 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 five 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 theses 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, trending to the campfire at the cabin, relaxing in the boat at Lake Chetek, 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 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 pie came to rival those made by his mother.

He could tell a story that would make you laugh until 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 (Michelle) of Chilton, Eric (Roxanne) of Kronenwetter; grandchildren: Jennifer (Dimitri) Grammatikopoulos, Kristopher and Rhiannon Dumler, Coty (Susie) McLeod, Jader McLeod, Megan (Gene) 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; 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 brothers-in-law, Chuck Winters, Edward Langseth, and Donald Bora; his sisters-in-law, Cindy Langseth, Douglas Rindfliesch, and Keith Bora; and 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 worked never hurt anyone.” We know there’s no such thing as chopper mittens in Heaven!

A Celebration of Jerry’s life, conducted by his children, was held at 7 p.m. Tuesday July 11, 2017, at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer. His family invited relatives and friends to gather Tuesday at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until time of service. All were encouraged to share fond memories of Jerry with those attending. Military honors conducted by American Legion Post 175 of Loyal followed the services. His family will hold a private committal service at a later date.

Visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com  to share thoughts and condolences. His arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home – Spencer.