Robert Gene “Smiley” Boehler, 75, died on Sunday, May 16, 2021.
Family Care Cremation in Springfield assisted the family.
Mr. Boehler was born Aug. 11, 1945, to Ralph Marten and Cathryn (Irwin) Boehler. His stepmother was Mildred Estelle Mayfield Nelson Boehler. He married Donna Lee Philcrantz on Dec. 3, 1967, in Newbury Post, MA, and they later divorced in May 1992. He then married Catherine Kay on Dec. 31, 1995, in Shelbyville.
He attended St. Isidore School and Farmersville High School, and graduated from Girard High School with the class of 1963. He obtained a B grade upon completion of an “AG” short course (a semester course shortened to six weeks) at University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana. He also took a number of classes at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield.
Mr. Boehler taught welding classes at Lincoln Land Community College and Capital Area Vocational School in Springfield for a short time. He also worked at Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. in Springfield before he entered the U.S. Army in 1965.
During his service time, he served in Vietnam as a radio direction finding technician with top secret security clearance. He then served in Rothweston, Germany, where he was released from service in August 1969.
Mr. Boehler went on to work as a farm hand for Marion Watson and John Stieren. He began farming in 1970, and also worked at Fiat-Allis (formerly Allis-Chalmers) in Springfield until 1972. He continued farming until 2004. He raised and sold hogs, as well as fainting goats, during the 70s and into the early 90s. In addition, he worked for Melvin Rovey Farm and Sales, repairing and erecting grain bins in the late 70s to early 80s.
He established Boehler Welding and Repair in 1975, repairing farm machinery, building trailers and many other things. Although he became disabled, he continued to work on small projects until his death.
Mr. Boehler served as caretaker of St. Isidore School for many years, and was a member of the St. Isidore School Board, St. Mary’s Parish Counsel and St. Mary’s Diocese Council. He was an original member of nine citizens who began the Farmersville-Waggoner Ambulance Service in 1978. He served as an EMT-B and held various offices, including Squad Captain until 1998.
He built a children’s pulling tractor/sled and operated it at the annual Irish Days Celebration in Farmersville, as well as other local celebrations. He also built several combine demolition machines and participated in the Combine Demolition Derby contests for several years, winning top honors at times.
Mr. Boehler enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He was always thinking of things to create and figuring out how things worked. He enjoyed all kinds of music and was most fond of older country. Until his death, he was an active member of the Waggoner American Legion Post 701 and the Honor Squad.
In the 1980s, he was the winning bidder for Crown III Coal Mine in Farmersville to do repair work, build cable sleds, hitch pins and other jobs until the mine closed in December 2013.
Mr. Boehler’s siblings include Mary Blanche (Norman D.) Bourland, Thomas Eldon (Joan) Boehler, Dorothy Teresa (Harry S.) Campbell, Alice Marie (Donald Lee) Davis, Jessie Wayne (Michele) Boehler, Bonnie Caroline (Henry James) Sidles, Dale Nicholas Boehler and Joan Boehler, who died in infancy. His stepsiblings are Ronald (Sandy) Nelson and Joyce Nelson (John) Smith.
He is survived by his children, Stefanie Jean Boehler (husband Joel) Slightom of Waggoner, Adam Henry Boehler of New Berlin, Gretchen Ann Boehler (husband Rob) Hester of Sadorus, Joshua Ralph (wife Jessica) Boehler of Clare, IA, and Heather Estelle Boehler (husband Tim) Burenga of Raymond; stepchildren, Adam Franklin Morgan of Missouri and Kristin Frances Morgan of Raytown, MO; numerous grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Farmersville-Waggoner Ambulance Service and Waggoner American Legion Post 701.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.familycarecremation.com.
