James LeRoy Boos

Jim was born on June 19, 1933, the son of Lloyd and Esther (Bechtel) Boos in Canby, Minnesota.  The Boos family moved around while farming and they made their home in New Hampton.  He grew up farming with his dad and fell in love with working the ground and raising livestock.

Jim attended school in Ionia and graduated from the Ionia Public High School in 1952.

Jim spent his life rooted in the values of hard work, family, and friendship. A farmer at heart, Jim dedicated much of his life to the land and to building a life alongside his beloved wife, Florence “Flo” Boos.

Jim met Flo while they were young, first crossing paths at a high school basketball game in Ionia. Jim caught Flo’s attention while he was on the basketball court, and before long, she caught his eye as well when they met again at the skating rink. Their relationship grew into a lifelong love story, and on April 11, 1953, they were united in marriage at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Ionia. Together, they shared 71 years of marriage and raised three children: Debbie, Jim, and Steve.

Jim and Flo established their home near Devon, Iowa, where they spent many years farming and raising their family. Jim was a hardworking farmer who took pride in the life they built. Farming was more than just his occupation—it was a way of life that shaped much of his time and energy over the years.

Another enjoyment was landscaping his and others’ backyards and building things from decks to birdhouses.

When Jim wasn’t busy with the responsibilities of the farm, he enjoyed finding time to have a little fun. He was an avid card player and could hold his own in just about any game. The Boos family game of whist was his favorite. He enjoyed the competition, the strategy, and, most importantly, the time spent around the table with friends and family.

Another one of Jim’s greatest passions was the Mississippi River. After purchasing their first boat in the early 1960s, Jim and Flo quickly fell in love with life on the water. Over the years, their boating adventures grew from that first boat to owning a houseboat and eventually a home in McGregor. Jim loved being out on the river, spending time on the boat, relaxing, and enjoying the many friendships that came from their years along the Mississippi.

Jim and Flo also enjoyed seeing the world together. Their travels took them to places such as Europe, Hawaii, and Mexico, along with numerous cruises and adventures throughout the years. They were dedicated Iowa Hawkeye fans and enjoyed following both football and basketball. Their love of the Hawkeyes took them to stadiums throughout the Big Ten and to several memorable bowl games, including three Rose Bowls.

As the years went by, Jim and Flo began spending their winters in Florida, where they enjoyed getting away from the Iowa winters and welcoming visits from their children and grandchildren. Whether he was working on the farm, sitting down for a card game, traveling with Flo, cheering on the Hawkeyes, or spending a day on the river, Jim believed in enjoying the time he had with the people around him.

Jim is survived by one daughter, Debbie Wegner of New Hampton; two sons, Jim (Carol) Boos of New Hampton and Steve (Shellie) Boos of New Hampton; six grandchildren, Nicole (Andy Kurtz) Boots of Waterloo, Emily (Matt) Ackerson of Cedar Falls, Andrea (Paul) Carroll of McGregor, Tyler (Erin) Boos of New Hampton, Jake (Sheryn) Boos of Denver, and Dylan (Kallie) Boos of Cedar Falls; 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Florence “Flo” Boos; his parents; and one son-in-law, Gary Wegner; siblings Dorothy (Bob) Sanderson, Don (Fleta) Boos, Jean (Dale) Steenblock, Jerry (Delilah) Boos; in-laws, Nick and Bertha Jacobs; sister-in-law, Elaine (Jim) Elenz.