Rowena Boyer (1926-2019)

BOYER, CRAWFORD, JOHNSON

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 4/9/2019 at 17:54:38

Rowena (Johnson) Boyer, age 92, of Dubuque, was called home peacefully at 12:15 a.m., on Monday, April 8, 2019, at Dubuque Specialty Care. To honor Rowena's life, funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Trinity Church, 1701 Rhomberg Avenue, with Rev. Andrew Awotwe-Mensah officiating. To celebrate Rowena's life, family and friends may visit from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., on Friday, April 12, 2019, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, where there will be a parish scripture service held at 3:45 p.m. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery.

Rowena was born on September 7, 1926, in Henryetta, Oklahoma, daughter of Leroy and Elizabeth (Crawford) Johnson.

Rowena was united in marriage to the love of her life, Joseph Boyer, on March 11, 1944, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and they were blessed with 36 wonderful years together, before he was sadly called home ahead of her on May 1, 1980. Rowena was taught early on the value of having a strong work ethic, a trait which she proudly roll modeled and passed on to her family. She devoted her time and talents as a seamstress with the Bridal Embassy, and her caring and attentive nature was evidenced in her care of patients as a CNA for Sunnycrest Manor and Orchard Manor for several years. Rowena enjoyed following and discussing politics, never shy about sharing her opinions on the issues, and was very active volunteering her time with the Democratic Party. In her free time Rowena could be found helping out on the farm, in the kitchen doing some canning, sitting at the sewing machine creating her next masterpiece or simply sitting down working a word search puzzle. Above all, Rowena's family brought her the greatest joy, and she cherished any opportunity to spend time with Joe and the children. She was quite the dancer in her younger years, and she and Joe could regularly be found out on the dance floor spinning and twirling the night away. We are deeply saddened at the loss of our wonderful mom, grandma, great-grandma and sister, but are truly grateful for the 92 years we were blessed to have her here with us teaching us life lessons and loving us unconditionally.

Those left to cherish Rowena's memory include

her children,
Mary Boyer, Blue Springs, MO,
Kay McCabe, Cuba City, WI,
Ronald Boyer, Dubuque, IA
and Kelvin (Theresa) Boyer, Tehachapi, CA;

her 10 grandchildren,
Dennis (Shannon) DeBolt, DeLisa (Randy) Rogers, Jason Boyce, Somer Boyce, Ronald (Shelly) Bahr, Christina Boyer, Erica (Mark) Denny, Sarah (Gabe) Orellana, Makenna (Phillip) Kuenstle and Ryan (Susan) McCabe;

her 25 great-grandchildren;

her 2 great great-grandchildren;

her siblings,
Rowetta Freese, Hazel Green, WI,
Carolyn Ruth (Richard) Reed, Denver, CO
and Margie (Larry) Gilliland, Tusla, OK;

her son-in-law,
Aric Stroup, Galena, IL;

and 2 sisters-in-law,
Mary Johnson
and Carol Johnson.

Rowena was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph Boyer; 2 daughters, Susan Boyce and Nancy Stroup; a granddaughter, Heidi Marie Boyer; her siblings, Betty Jo (Carace) Radney, Rose Ann (Bob) Green, Priscilla (Jack) Smith, Norma (Richard) Dill, Ester (Thad) Nunn, Arthur Johnson and Gene Johnson; a son-in-law, Bob McCabe; and a brother-in-law, Joe Freese.

Rowena's family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and staff of Dubuque Specialty Care and Hospice of Dubuque, for all of their kind, compassionate and professional care of Rowena and her family.

Memorials will be accepted by the family to be distributed among her favorite charities.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com