Gary D. Boisen

Gary D. Boisen, 78, of rural Richmond, MN, died Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at St Cloud Hospital following complications from heart surgery. He was born on October 3rd, 1939 in La Porte City, Iowa, eldest child of Donevan and Dorothy (Jans) Boisen. He grew up on farms in the area and went to country school before the family moved to rural Le Sueur County in 1949, settling near St. Thomas, MN. He attended country school and St Anne's Catholic school before going on to high school in Le Sueur. He and his buddies would hunt, fly model planes and drive fast cars. Among other extracurricular activities he set records at LeSueur High School in shot put. He met his forever love, Judy Boehm, in biology class in September of 1957 and they would have celebrated the 61st anniversary of their first date this September 7th. He graduated from LSHS in 1958, and worked at various jobs before being drafted into the Army while Judy attended nursing school at St Joseph's hospital in Mankato. During a leave, Gary and Judy were married February 24, 1962 at St Anne's Catholic Church in Le Sueur. They spent a short time at his next posting near Detroit, MI. Eventually, Gary was sent to Alaska and Judy came back to Le Sueur. Their firstborn, Matt, arrived before Gary was discharged from the Army. The family grew with the addition of Mary, Ann, John and Kate. During this time, Gary farmed and then worked at Green Giant. He earned a business degree from Mankato State College, graduating in 1973. The family moved to Iowa in 1977 for a short time, and then back to Minnesota, near Albany, MN. Gary worked for Purity Dairy, Fruin-Colnan construction and finally Banker's Systems as warehouse distribution manager until his retirement. Along the way, their children grew up, moved away, married and brought grandchildren into the world. Gary loved to work with his hands, constructing everything from rock walls, barns, additions, sheds and playhouses, down to hefty toolboxes and birdhouses. Several old pickups and one particularly customized station wagon were the products of his motorhead days. He dreamed of flying, and when that became impractical, turned to building small watercraft. He looked forward to duck hunting each fall around his birthday. He designed gardens, grew grapes, made wine, and read books and magazines by the stackful, pondering and discussing history, art, politics and philosophy along the way. Gary looked at life with an ironic twist, and often found humor in the "human condition". An outwardly calm man with a sentimental heart and a restless soul, he loved nothing more than to be at home with his "things about him", puttering away, but always with the expectation of a quiet evening solving the world's problems with Judy, perhaps over cards and a glass (or two) of wine. Steadfast and loyal, he retained the friendships of his youth, as well as a select group he met during the course of his life. Gary is survived by his wife of fifty six years, Judy (Boehm) Boisen, son Matt (Jody), daughters Mary, Ann (Randy) Kimball, son John (Melissa) and daughter Kate MacDonald, grandchildren Cameron MacDonald, Thomas Boisen, Flynn MacDonald and Ellie Boisen, sister Ellie Depuydt, brother Danny (Barb) Boisen, sister Vicky (Joe) Laux and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at St Anne's Catholic church in Le Sueur, MN on Saturday August 25th, 2018, beginning with a meeting of friends at 1pm, followed by a short service in the church at 2pm with a luncheon following at St Anne's school. A party to celebrate Gary's life will be held at the farm later in the fall. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude's Research Hospital or St. Anne's School, LeSueur, MN are suggested.