John Joseph Boesl

June 11, 1941 - August 8, 2014

John Joesph Boesl of Sturgis, SD passed away Friday August 8, 2014 at the VA Fort Meade Hospice Unit, after a short battle with cancer. He was 73 years old.

John was born in Langdon, ND on June 11, 1941 to Joseph and Gertrude (Schneider)Boesl. He graduated from St. Alphonsus High School Langdon, ND in 1959. John was working in Milwaukee when he enlisted in the U.S. Army, 101st Paratrooper Airborne Division from 1963-1966. While enlisted he did a tour in Vietnam in 1965-1966. Upon his return he worked for Drott Tractor Company, transporting and demonstrating heavy equipment. In 1972 he moved to Turton, SD where he operated a hardware business and subsequently started a trucking business for 18 years. He moved to Sturgis, SD in 1993 and managed a mobile home court before he was hired to work for The Department of Defense at Ellsworth Airforce Base in Rapid City, SD as an Airfield Clearing Equipment Operator. He was employed there until the time of his death.

John married Bernice (Imm) on July 29, 1967 in Turton, SD and they had three children: Shawn, Chad and Kent.

John was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed work, playing cards (especially the game of 31), watching his grandkids participate in sports activities and mentoring neighborhood kids.

Survivors include his wife, Bernice of Sturgis, SD, his sons Shawn (Chanda) Boesl and their 3 children Mitchell, Kaitlyn, and Alexis, of Warner, SD, Chad(Samantha) and son Blake Boesl, of Phoenix, AZ, Kent(Debra)Boesl of Sioux Falls, SD. Siblings include David(Donna)Boesl, Shelon, WI, Norbert (Patricia)Boesl, Brookfield, WI, Joseph (Laura)Boesl, Prairie Farm, WI, Aleatha Zettel, Milwaukee, WI, Bernice (Jerome)Sandhal, Westfield, WI, Timothy(Phyllis)Boesl, Parkers Prairie, MN, Joanne(Randy)Wertz, Oshkosh, WI, and Margaret(James)Ramthun, Campbellsport, WI, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Joseph and mother Gertrude, a sister Barbara, and a brother-in-law Earl Zettel.

A wake service will be held on Wednesday August 13, 2014 at Kinkade Funeral Home, family present 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. with rosary to follow at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 14, 2014 at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Sturgis, SD with Father Timothy officiating. Interment will be in the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD following the memorial service.