BOYCE, Rev. Ross (1921-2006)

BOYCE, VARNER, WALTERS, BENEDICT, BALDWIN, CALNAN, WEIBLE, DJUREEN, CARLILE

Posted By: Elaine Harrington (email)
Date: 9/13/2006 at 12:02:33

From the Opinion Tribune dated 09-06-2006:

Rev. Ross E. Boyce, age 85, of Glenwood, died Aug. 30, 2006, at Glen Haven Home in Glenwood. Funeral services were held Sept. 5, 2006, at First Christian Church in Glenwood. Rev. Robert Varner and Rev. Gary Walters officiated the service. Interment was in the Glenwood Cemetery.

He was born Jan. 22, 1921 in Glenwood, to Elmer Roy and Estella Marie (Benedict) Boyce. He received Christ as his Savior as a boy at West Oak Baptist Church in Glenwood. He graduated from Glenwood High School in 1938 ad later from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ill. He enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1940 and was taken into service in Company I, 168th Infantry Division in February of 1941. He faithfully served his country during World War II and was captured as a Prisoner of War for two and a half years in prison camps in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. He was a veteran and lifetime member of the American Legion.

He was married to Lorraine Helen Baldwin, daughter of Della Chloe and Blanks O. Baldwin on Dec. 26, 1945 in Glenwood. They had two daughters: Linda born on July 16, 1949, and Christine, born on Sept. 4, 1953.

He was employed with the Iowa Road Crew and was produce manager of the Glenwood Safeway. He was transferred with Safeway and moved to Lincoln, Neb. in 1952. The family then moved to Council Bluffs in 1953 and he became employed with Jon Deere in Omaha, working in the parts department and early computer related positions. He retired after 25 years of dedication.

He began his pastoral career while still employed with John Deere, being ordained into the Lord’s ministry in 1969 at Woodland Community Bible Church in Crescent. The family moved to Dunlap in 1972 where he officiated at the First Congregational Church in 1979, the moved to Quail Valley, Calif. where he pastored at Quail Valley Bible Church and returned to Iowa in late 1981. He then moved to Falls City, Neb., where he was pastor at Falls City Baptist Church from 1981 to 1986. He retired from the ministry and moved to Hamburg in 1986.

His wife died on Aug. 2, 1987. He then moved back to his hometown of Glenwood in November of 1995 and continued to fill the pulpit in many churches in surrounding areas such as Hamburg, Emerson, Glenwood, Clarinda, Pacific Junction and Nebraska City until he was physically unable to do so in 2003. He spent the last 10 years of his life ministering to people in churches, nursing homes and hospitals.

Preceding him in death were his parents and wife Lorraine. He is survived by his daughters Lida and husband Thomas Calnan of Red Oak; Christine and husband David Weible of Bellevue, Neb.; four grandchildren; one great-grandson; sister Betty Djureen of Council Bluffs; special friend Rachel Carlile of Glenwood; nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

Memorials are suggested to Woodland Bible Church in Crescent of American Heart Association. Peterson Mortuary in Glenwood was in charge of arrangements.