Boehm, Harold John 'Skip'

Harold John “Skip” Boehm, 89, beloved husband, father, father-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, grandpa, great-grandpa, and uncle, joined his wife, Lena, to continue the journey they started 60 years ago. Harold died peacefully on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, of natural causes at The Village of Legacy Pointe in Waukee, Iowa.

Harold was born Nov. 24, 1921, to John Fredrick and Leta (Tjarks) Boehm in Nashua. He grew up in Spirit Lake and graduated high school there in 1939. He was a member of the football and basketball teams. After high school, he was employed as an engineer's assistant by Dickinson County.

During World War II he was stationed in Kingman, Ariz., where he graduated from the Army Air Force's flexible gunnery school as an aerial gunner. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded the silver wings of the aerial bombardier upon graduation from the Army Air Force's bombardier school of flight and combat training in high-level, precision bombing and navigation from Kirtland Field, Albuquerque, N.M. He then went to Barksdale Field, Shreveport, La., for further combat training. He served with the 319th Bomb Group as a first lieutenant bombardier-navigator on B-26's and B-25's in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

Harold entered Iowa State University and graduated in 1949, with a B.S. in engineering. He was employed as the city engineer for Knoxville, general manager at Wemer Motors in Sigourney, district manager-Behlen Manufacturing, Wicks Manufacturing, Middle States Manufacturing and as a Realtor for Mallinger and Associates in Sigourney.

Harold had a great love for his country and therefore, took an interest in supporting various political and civic organizations. He served as mayor of Sigourney from 1966 to 1970 and on the Keokuk County Board of Review for 25 years. He was involved in the VFW Post 2308, American Legion Post 19, Lions Club, and Kiwanis of America.

On Nov. 28, 1947, he married Lena Louise Wemer at the Gibson Presbyterian Church.

Harold was a proud father of seven children. He is survived and deeply missed by three sons, Colin (Jane) Boehm of Iowa City, John (Janet) Boehm of Ankeny and Samuel Boehm of Adel; four daughters, Julie (Robert) Bushmaker of Whitehall, Mont., Laura (Jeffrey) Fulton of Urbandale, Ruby (James) Kahler of Winterset and Tena (Robert) Morgan of Mesa, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren, Joshua Boehm, Ryan Boehm, Blair Boehm, Ana Boehm, Trenton Bushmaker, Aaron Fulton, Wesley (fiancee Maggie Michel) Fulton, Andrea (Timothy) Kraft, Adam (Laura) Kahler, Ashley (Troy) Bushnell, Graham Boehm; three great-grandchildren, Andrew Kraft, Evelyn Kraft and Cael Bushnell; two brothers, Kenneth Boehm and John Boehm; and one sister, Eleanor Boehm Twigg.

Harold was preceded in death by his wife, Lena, on July 25, 2008; his grandson, Jesse Boehm, on Nov. 22, 2008; his parents; his brothers, Herbert Boehm and Dr. Donald Boehm, and stepbrother Harry Smith; and his sister, Lorraine Boehm Nowicki.

Please join with the family in sharing memories. Holm Funeral Home in Sigourney is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Holm Funeral Home. Services will take place at the Sigourney Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Sixteen Cemetery west of Thornburg.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in his name to the Gibson Presbyterian Church or a charity of the donor's choice.

Published Sept. 11, 2011, in The Gazette