Boyken, William Gerd 1929-2014

BOYKEN, HANSELMANN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/6/2025 at 18:25:39

William Gerd Charles Boyken was born December 3, 1929 at Algona, Iowa to William and Martha (Fritz) Boyken. Bill graduated from Titonka High School and then Wartburg College. On August 29, 1950, he married Muriel Hanselmann in Streeter, North Dakota.

Bill earned a Master's Degree at the University of Iowa and worked at the Iowa Trust and Savings in Ames. In 1963, his greatest career move, began working at the Eau Claire, Wisconsin Community State Bank. He later taught at Alexandria Tech before moving to Chippewa Falls., Wisconsin. He later joined the Charter Bank in Eau Claire until his retirement. Bill and Muriel moved to a farm near Buffalo Center in 2009 where they lived until shortly before his death.

Bill was a member of Good Hope Lutheran Church in Titonka and was a well known and respected businessman and civic leader in Eau Claire. He lived simply and gave generously. Bill shared the joy of bike riding with his grandchildren. Their annual adventures crossed the states of Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.

Bill died at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona early Sunday morning at the age of 84.

Survivors include his wife Muriel of Algona; daughter Beth and husband Jeff Gilmore of Algona; daughter Bonnie Boyken of Woodbury, Minnesota; son James and wife Karen of Hopewell Junction, New York; six grandchildren Lee Gilmore, Kelly Gilmore Kortenber, Paul Mitchell, Vanessa Mitchell Cannon, Lara Boyken and Graham Boyken; five great grandchildren Alyssa Gilmore, Blake Gilmore, Ada Kortenber, Charles Kortenber and Calvin Mitchell as well as one sister Verdene Ryder of Texas. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Edward, Arthur and Neal.