BOELMAN, Folkert 1919-1977

BOELMAN, DEVRIES, GLADE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/18/2019 at 10:48:48

Folkert Boelman Dies Suddenly Of Heart Attack

The vice chairman of the Grundy County Board of Supervisors, Folkert Boelman, died suddenly at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at his farm home southeast of Aplington of an apparent heart attack.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church in Aplington with the Rev. Charles E. Orr officiating. Interment was in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Aplington.

The Grundy county courthouse in Grundy Center was closed part of the day Friday so that county officials and employees could attend the service.

Mr. Boelman was respected by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him, and his judgement was esteemed by the other members of the board of supervisors. He will be greatly missed.

Altho his health suffered a setback a year ago, Folkert never complained, and was on duty as usual at the courthouse Monday. There was no hint then that he soon would be taken from us.

The deceased served as a member of the board of supervisors on two occasions.

In August, 1970, he was appointed as replacement for Art Miller, who had moved from the Pleasant Valley-German township district. He served five months.

The second occasion came in the November, 1974, general election, when the constituents of District No. 2--which includes all or portions of Pleasant Valley, German, Shiloh and Melrose townships--elected him to a four year term, succeeding Gerald Bakker. He took office on January 1, 1975.

He recently took the lead to obtain improved secondary roads in northwest Grundy county, and what comes of that in the months ahead will be greatly due to his efforts.

It is with sadness that we write: we are proud to have known the late Folkert Boelman.

Mr. Boelman was born January 30, 1919, the son of Ben and Anna DeVries Boelman, on the family farm southeast of Aplington.

He attended rural school in that area.

In World War II he served with the U.S. Army in Europe.

On January 20, 1952, Folkert married Shirley Glade at her parents home in Franklin county. To this happy union were born four children.

Mr. Boelman was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Aplington, where he served as Elder and member of the church choir. He also was a member of the Aplington Amvet Post and the Grundy County Farm Bureau.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley; two sons, James, who is attending Buena Vista College at Storm Lake, and Jack, who is a senior in the Aplington high school; one daughter, Mary, Mrs. Preston Groote of Cedar Falls.

Also surviving are his father, Ben, of Aplington; five sisters, Mrs. Fred (Tillie) Johnson of Aplington, Mrs. John (Helen) Graham and Mrs. William (Leona) Vigars, both of Eldora, Mrs. Alvern (Pearl) Kinrade of Sioux City, and Mrs. Darwyn (Lois) Lumley of Placentia, Calif.

Two brothers, Ben Boelman Jr. of Placentia, Calif., and Robert Boelman of Waterloo, also survive.

He was preceded in death by his mother, who passed away March 4; and infant son, Curtis; and a brother, George.

Schwartz-Engelkes Funeral Chapel in Aplington was in charge of the funeral arrangements.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 21 April 1977, pg 2