Obituary of William "Bill" Boese

Memorial Mass for William "Bill" Boese, age 79, of Milford will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 10:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Visitation will take place prior to the service from 9:30-10:30am at the church. 

William John Boese, son of Burdette ”Buzz” William and Helen Mary (Trainer) Boese, was born in El Paso, Texas, on August 3, 1944, where his father was stationed with the Army.

The family returned to Webb, Iowa, upon “Buzz” fulfilling his tour of duty. Bill grew up helping his grandpa on the county road grader and his dad at the Champlin gas station. Bill loved baseball and played catcher from elementary through high school. Bill graduated from Webb High School in 1962 with a baseball scholarship to South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings, SD. During his freshman year at SDSU, Bill decided he’d rather be a United States Marine. He quit college, enlisted, and was stationed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, California.

During his time at MCRD, Bill was recognized as a leader and was encouraged to apply for appointment to the United States Naval Academy (USNA) Prep School, Bainbridge, MD, where upon completion, he received an appointment to the 1965 USNA plebe class. He graduated from USNA in 1969 thus pinning on the single silver bar of a United States Marine Corps (USMC) Second Lieutenant. Bill proceeded to the Basic School, Quantico, Virginia. With him, beginning a 26-year military career, was his wife, Ramona Finch Boese of Spencer, Iowa.

Bill’s accomplishments at the Basic School qualified him for flight training, his future military career. The Vietnam War was going on and Bill’s pilot training began with the Air Force (space available), receiving Air Force wings. Marines fly with the Navy. To earn Navy wings, they moved to Cherry Point, NC, there earning those wings. Through his career, Bill flew the A-4 Skyhawk and the AV-8B Harrier. LtCol. William J. Boese retired from the Marine Corps in 1989, moved to Milford, Iowa, and began a cow/calf operation on his farm west of Milford.

Bill was active with the American Legion Post #384, served as a Dickinson County Supervisor, and was active with his church. Surrounded by his family, Bill passed on April 10, 2024. Preceding Bill in death were his parents, Burdette and Helen. Left to remember and honor him are his wife, Ramona; daughter, Sarah Boese Crowder, and her husband, Josh, and their children: Hanah, Jakob, and Elaina; son, John, and his son, Max; sister, Marilyn Boese Douglas and her husband, Greg. Bill has many relatives and friends who will talk about his storytelling and golfing skills.

“He has slipped the surly bonds of Earth and touched the face of God…”

High Flight by John Gillespie