Ardell Gene BOELMAN

BOELMAN, WESSELS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/7/2015 at 12:27:31

May 13, 1929 --- January 31, 2015

BELMOND -- Ardell Gene "Shorty" Boelman, age 85, formerly of Belmond, most recently of Keokuk, died Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, at the Great River Medical Center, Burlington. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond. The Rev. Philip Arnold will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 6-7 p.m. and will continue one hour prior to the funeral services on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed in care of the family.

Ardell Boelman was born May 13, 1929, in Iowa. He attended Meservey Schools in Meservey. Ardell was employed by various area farmers in a variety of different roles. He has worked for Helge Eide Turkey Farm east of Belmond and for Coonie Smith for a number of years driving machinery, grain trucks, and helping with the hog operations. In earlier years of his life he had been active with his folks in the First Reformed Church of Alexander.

Ardell truly was a fixture in Belmond community, where he could often been seen tooling about town on his red Snapper lawnmower. Sometimes with a wagon filled with fishing equipment as he was headed to the nearest fishing hole for the afternoon. Occasionally he would travel a bit further when the urges arose. On a summer day one might find Ardell pedaling around town on his bicycle and when he was truly adventuresome he would set out on his two-wheeler for a cruise through the snow and ice. Ardell was an avid card player and looked forward to competitive games of Kings Corner. He especially looked forward to times with his brother Jerald. For many years prior to his mother Emma's passing, you would many times find Ardell and his mom on a bus trip to an area casino. The two spent many years together following Emma's husband George Wessel's death. Ardell was a simple man who truly enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He loved a good conversation, a quiet afternoon on the water, and special outings and activities with the various residents and staff at the health care facilities her lived in the past several years.

He is survived by his half-brother, Jerald (Deb) Wessels of Belmond, IA, and Jerald's family, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Emma Wessels. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond.

February 6, 2015
Mason City Globe Gazette - Mason City, Iowa