Boal, Jack

Jack Boal of Iowa City died Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at Mercy Iowa City. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Visitation will precede the services at the church from noon until service time. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jack's memory to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church or Iowa City Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the Web at www.gayandciha.com.

William Elvis Boal (“Jack”) was born in Henry County, Iowa, on April 1, 1932, to Orrell Delbert “O.D.” and Bessie Faye Fenton Boal. He attended Olds Consolidated school district, graduating in 1950. Jack served in the Army Corps of Engineers. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a master's degree.

He was a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa fraternity, honorary physical education fraternity. Jack taught and coached in Eddyville, Iowa, moving to Iowa City in 1962. In 1960, he married Carol Ann Taylor in Moberly, Mo. They met while teaching in Eddyville. He retired from teaching in 1991.

Jack was very active in coaching and officiating high school athletic contests. He was a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, Iowa City Athletic Association and was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame. He officiated numerous Iowa State tournament games in football, basketball and baseball. Jack was a member of the “chain gang” with Bob Oldis for the University of Iowa football team for more than 40 years, retiring in 2011. He was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and American Legion Post 17.

Jack liked to make benches and catch fish on the Cedar River by Atalissa. Each fall, he, Dave, Bryan and Dan provided a much looked for fish fry for all of the family. After retirement, he liked time playing golf and he treasured the many friends he made through this activity. For almost a dozen years, he and Carol wintered in Mesa, Ariz., where they made more good friends. Family and friends were a very important part of his life.

Jack's family includes his wife, Carol; three children and their spouses, David Alan and Elizabeth (Oehler) Boal of Iowa City, Melinda Ann “Mindy” and Woodrow II “Woody” Houser of rural Beresford, S.D., and Brenda Lynn Vrchoticky of rural Wilton/Tipton; 10 grandchildren, Bryan and Dan Boal, Samantha “Sam,” Alinia “Ali,” Benjamin and Taylor Houser and Eleanor, Maximillian “Max,” Reese and Bess Vrchoticky; one sister, Glenda (Malcolm) Alvine of Olds, Iowa; four sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Baker Boal (Don) Peterson of Olds, Marilyn Hultquist Boal of Mount Pleasant, Mary Eubank Boal of Mount Pleasant, and Eleanor Cecille “Cecy” Taylor (Karl) Rice of Moberly, Mo.; cousins; many nieces and nephews; and many good friends.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; nine siblings, Helen Henry, Charles, Everett, Robert “Bob,” Willard “Bill” and Dean, infant twin sisters, Frances and Mary, and infant brother, Howard; infant granddaughter, Miranda Houser; brother-in-law, Pat Henry; parents-in-law, Henry and Dorothy Ash Taylor; son-in-law, Arthur Lee Vrchoticky; and uncles, aunts and cousins.

Published Dec. 19, 2013 in The Gazette