ROBERT B. BOEHMER

Robert B. Boehmer, passed away on Wednesday morning, January 8, 2014 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND after a brief illness. Robert, or Bob, as he was known to most people, was born May 29, 1925 at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake, North Dakota to John and Mary (Lang) Boehmer. He was the youngest of nine children and the last surviving member of the family. Bob attended Saint Mary’s Catholic School and entered the work world as a young man. While his six brothers served in various branches of military during World War II, Bob was turned away as a matter of policy that left one male member of the family home to care for perpetuity of the family name. Bob began his work years working at the Maherwood Farm east of Devils Lake. He was later employed by Fairmont Creamery in his late teens and with the REA Electric Utility in his early 20’s. In 1952 bob was hired as a civilian employee of the State of North Dakota at Camp Grafton where he remained until his retirement in 1987. In 1946 Bob married Lucille Buehler from Oberon, North Dakota. The marriage produced five children and a myriad of memories, experiences and family history. Bob’s life took a turn shortly after retirement and eventually settled itself in a loving remainder of life with Delores Keim of Lakota, North Dakota. Bob’s was an active retirement. His pastimes included music. He played the guitar and was proud of the instruments he played daily. Bob was a life time devotee to exercise and healthy living. He was an avid home body who took endless pleasure in the opportunities to create, maintain, fix and improve. Though not formally educated his was a bright and inventive mind. He was adept at design, engineering and building trailers, equipment and tools. Bob also had an ever flourishing green thumb. It was easy to tell where Bob lived because it was so meticulously maintained. There was a humble joy that accompanied a private inner pride at having made things just a little, or a lot, better than they had been. These are ethics he has passed on to his children who all recognize the virtue gained by his understated example. Bob’s kids settled in Michigan, North Dakota and Washington States. He was very fastidious about making certain he visited each with equal frequency. And, his children always included their Dad in their vacation planning. Over the last decade annual family gatherings were held allowing the family to all be together in the company of their Dad. Bob was proud of the family’s closeness and often expressed his appreciation for what he considered a true blessing. Bob lived a simple life. He was a strong, loving and a sometimes hard man who believed in simple, basic values. He left others alone and expected the same of them. Never short of opinion, he stayed clear of conflict unless it came to him in need of resolution. And, then he resolved it with authority and definition. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Lucille Buehler Boehmer; his parents, John and Mary Boehmer; two sisters, Katherine Sorbel and Lucille Morrow and six brothers, John, Arthur, Lawrence, Albert, Alois and Leo Boehmer. Robert is survived by his children, Roberta Morgan (Harold), Douglas (Darcy Fisher), Shelly Stadick, James (Serena) and Janet Wasielewski (Mike); grandchildren, Betsy Stadick, Kelly Stadick Beck, Daniel Stadick, Emily Boehmer Totten, Nick Boehmer, Dean Morgan and Anna Morgan and eight great grandchildren Trevor Morgan; Myah Beck; Corinne, Grant and Reid Cossette; Ashton and Ciara Sutherland; and Carter Totten. Mass of the Resurrection for Robert will be held on Friday, January 17, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with Fr. Matthew Kraemer celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. A time of honoring Bob’s life will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday, January 16th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Memorials can be made in Bob’s name to the charity of the donor’s choice.