Robert W. "Bob" Boeke (1925-2008)
BOEKE, STARBUCK, DAY, BURKE, WIECHMAN, MICHAELSON
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 7/8/2008 at 12:19:17
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, July 8, 2008.
July 28, 1925-July 4, 2008
Robert W. (Bob) Boeke, 82, of Ames, died Friday, July 4, due to complications following heart surgery at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines. Memorial services will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 10, at Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 159 Sheldon Ave., in Ames, followed by a lunch reception. Burial will be later that day at the family plot in Hubbard Cemetery.
Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, at Collegiate Presbyterian Church.
Robert W. (Bob) Boeke was born July 28, 1925, and was raised on the family farm in Hubbard. He started college at Iowa State in 1943, but left the following year to learn to be a pilot in the U.S. Navy. He returned to college after his discharge, where he met and married Roberta (Bobbie) Starbuck on Sept. 6, 1947. By 1950, he had completed his education obtaining a bachelor's degree in general engineering and a master's degree in industrial engineering. The following year, he began a 35-year career with John Deere, working at a variety of manufacturing sites in Iowa and Illinois. In 1968, he and his family moved to Heidelberg, Germany, where he served as head of all Deere operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Four years later, he returned to Moline, Ill., serving as vice president of manufacturing, farm equipment and consumer products. He joined the board of directors for Deere in 1979 and served as head of the John Deere Foundation from 1983 until he retired in 1986. Shortly thereafter, he started the BB&D (Boeke, Burke and Day) tree farm near Hubbard.
He was active in many professional and community organizations, including Sigma Chi at ISU, the ISU Achievement Fund and ISU Foundation boards. He served on the Banks of Iowa Board of Directors and was president of the Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts. He was a member of the American Society of Quality Control and served as president of the Center School Board in Ottumwa. He was a president of the Rock Island and Scott Counties United Way and a member of the board at the Herbert Hoover Library Association. Following retirement, he became very involved at the Collegiate Presbyterian Church in Ames. He was active in Rotary International and participated in the Ames-Enzan, Japan, Sister City Program. He was a member of the Upper Mississippi Yacht and Boat Club where he held the title of Commodore (in jest).
He was recognized for his achievements with the ISU Alumni Recognition Medal, and he was especially proud of the Anson Marston Award from ISU for achievement in engineering.
He loved his family. He was exceedingly generous and loyal. He especially loved flying and traveling, hanging out at McGregor and on the Mississippi River, trolling through the backwaters, observing wildlife and nature in general. He had a great sense of humor and a wonderful laugh.
He is survived by his wife, Bobbie; two daughters, Lee Boeke (John) Burke, of Neenah, Wis., and Linda Boeke (Wayne) Day, of Des Moines; and one son, John (Kim) Boeke, of Ankeny. His grandchildren include Elizabeth Boeke, of Bloomington, Ill., Michael and Stephanie Boeke Day, of Des Moines, Erin and Kelsey Boeke Burke, of Minneapolis and soon to be Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, respectively.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Elizabeth Boeke; two sisters, Ernestine Wiechman and Mary Michaelson; and an infant brother; along with his infant daughter, Beth.
Online condolences may be sent to www.
boekefuneralhomes.com.Services are being arranged through the Boeke Funeral Home, (641) 864-2215, in Hubbard.
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