FRANCIS DONOVAN “DON” BOEHM

Francis “Don” Boehm

Francis Donovan “Don” Boehm, 100, of Rushville died Jan. 6, 2020, at his residence.

He was born April 14, 1919, in Rushville, a son of William G. and Sophia Thudium Boehm. He married Elizabeth Loring on May 10, 1942, in Rushville. She preceded him in death.

He also was preceded in death by one daughter, Susan (and Richard) Schimmel of Champaign; three brothers, William Boehm, Edward Boehm and Roy C. Boehm; and four sisters, Alma Chipman, Rose Dean, Clarine Gillenwater and Pauline McCormick.

Surviving are his children, Don (and Mary) Boehm of Rushville, Becky (and Mike) Mann of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Richard (and Esther) Boehm of Rushville and Steve (and Esther) Boehm of Seguin, Texas; 13 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

As a youth, he worked in the family grocery and meat business. After graduating from Rushville High School, where he played trumpet in the school’s first band, he worked in St. Louis helping build airplanes for Curtis-Wright.

He was drafted into the Army during World War II in 1942. Sergeant Boehm worked as a mechanic preparing and repairing B-17 bombers for their missions against German targets while he was stationed in England.

After the war, he and Liz lived in St. Louis where he worked as an engineer at McDonald-Douglas. They returned home to Rushville where he farmed for eight years before joining his father-in-law Clarence Loring at Rushville State Bank. He worked at the bank for 30 years, retiring as chairman of the board in 1991. He continued to serve on the board until 2011.

He made furniture, clocks and other pieces of fine woodwork.

He was a member of Rushville First United Methodist Church, Schuyler American Legion Post #4, Rushville Lodge #9 AF and AM and Rushville Commandery #56 Knights Templar.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Worthington Funeral Home in Rushville with Mr. David Haney officiating. Burial will follow in Rushville City Cemetery with Military Services by Schuyler American Legion Post #4 and a U.S. Air Force Honors Detail. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday with Masonic services to follow.

Memorials may be made to Schuyler Counseling and Mental Health In-Home Services or Scripps Park Golf Course.

Condolences may be sent to www.worthingtonfh.com.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 1/8/2020