Boat, Carl Edwin 1933-2007

BOAT, KUYPER, INT VELD

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/26/2008 at 19:22:39

Carl Edwin Boat was born on April 8, 1933, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was a son of the late John Gilbert (J.G.) and Esther Helen Kuyper Boat. Carl grew up in the Pella, Iowa area, went through the Pella Public School System, and graduated from Pella High School with the Class of 1951.

Carl enrolled at Iowa State University (then ISC) at Ames, Iowa in the fall of 1951. He was enrolled in the engineering and business curriculum graduating in 1956 and later was awarded membership in the Order of the Knoll.

Upon graduation he entered the military and completed Officer's Training School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. While continuing his military career Carl was assigned to a two-year active duty engagement in the artillery- stationed in Germany. Upon completion of his active duty assignment, he returned to Pella.

Carl had been employed in summer programs with Vermeer Manufacturing Company from 1948 to 1953. Thus, and following the completion of his studies at Iowa State and his active military duty, he returned to Vermeer Manufacturing in 1958 where he spent 37 years working. He assumed responsibilities in the Sales Department as a Territorial Representative on the East Coast; in 1962 he became Sales Manager; and in 1970 was appointed Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Carl was very instrumental in setting up many international and domestic dealerships. He and Jacques de Jonge started Vermeer International. Carl was President of Vermeer Manufacturing from 1978-1983. In 1960, he started Vermeer Iowa which his son, Rick, operates today and he and Gary Vermeer founded Delta, Inc. to start a distribution of imported equipment from the Netherlands through Vermeer dealers. Carl continued to be part of the management staff at Vermeer Manufacturing until 1986, at which time he retired from the company, but remained involved in the interests and management of the company as an outside Director.

Since 1986, Carl had been involved in a number of civic activities in Pella, which had always been home to Carl. He had been a part of the Pella Community Foundation; member of the Pella Community Development Commission; member of the Dutch Fronts Committee; member of the Chamber's Community Affairs Committee; member of the Pella Housing Commission; worked on the committee that first studied a community center; was a driving force of the Pella Chamber's Transportation Committee which had the vision and commitment to make 163 bypass a reality; served as a volunteer for the Pella Historical Society (it's not Tulip Time unless Carl was at the gate taking tickets); and served on the Pella Opera House commission since its conception. Carl had been and continued to be on a number of Board Directorships. He was associated with Pella Implement at Pella and Oskaloosa Implement at Oskaloosa; served on the Pella Golf & Country Club board on three different occasions; as a bank director for the former Pella National Bank, now US Bank, and bank advisory group member for over 34 years; and had been a member of the Board of Trustees with Central College for over 34 years, of which 16 years he served as Chairman of the Board.

On Saturday morning, March 10, 2007, Carl passed away at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella at the age of 73 years.

He is survived by his wife, Dody, the former Delores Ann in't Veld whom he married on December 20, 1953; their two sons: Kenrick Steven (Rick) Boat and his wife, Pam and their three children: Brandon, Brenna and Derek of Pella, Iowa; Steven Jeffrey (Steve) Boat and his wife, Diane and their two daughters: Jessica and Luci of Glenwood Springs, Colorado; his sister, Mary Lynn Steenhoek of Prescott, Arizona; his sister-in-law, Jaydee (Glen) Boat of Denver, Colorado; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sally and Denny Rust of Georgetown, Texas.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, J. G. (Gil) and Esther Boat; his younger brother, Glen Stanley Boat in August of 2006; and his parents-in-law, Klaas and Ethel Ahrweiler in't Veld.

Carl was a faithful member of the Second Reformed Church in Pella. He was the recipient of the Community Service Award in 2001 and in 2005 Carl and Dody were designated and selected to receive the Honorary Alumni Award from Central College. 'Charlie' enjoyed flying, golfing, playing cards (pitch), boating, traveling and making his early morning rounds. His vision, his dedication and his passion for his family and the community of Pella are to be marveled.

In lieu of flowers Charlie's special interests were the Pella Opera House and Central College.

The Pella Chronicle, April 5, 2007