Stanley Boehr

Stanley L. Boehr, age 82, of Henderson, died unexpectedly of a cardiovascular event on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Lincoln. He was born on February 9, 1942, to Don and Laura (Friesen) Boehr in Detroit, Mich. 
Stan attended Monroe Evangelical Free Church, which was an important part of his life. He held a deep Christian faith and lived by his values and deep convictions. A role model for his children, he was a devoted husband, dedicated father, grandfather, and a loyal friend to many. He was known for his outgoing personality and his ease in conversing with even total strangers. With a genuine interest in getting to know the people around him, Stan made everyone who spoke with him feel appreciated and valued. Deeply missed, he will be dearly remembered in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
Back in the 1940’s, when Stan’s parents lived in Detroit, his father became an avid Cincinnati Reds fan when the Reds defeated the Detroit Tigers to win the 1940 World Series. As he grew, Stan became an even bigger Reds fan than his father, faithfully following the Reds and other teams on MLB radio. He was always happy to talk baseball and enjoyed attending MLB games and the College World Series. As a boy, Stan combined his love of baseball and math to create an ingenious dice game with baseball cards where the players advanced based on their hitting statistics. Soon after Stan’s birth, his parents moved back to the Henderson area where they farmed near Lushton. Stan was the oldest of six children in his family and farmed with his dad.
Stan graduated from Henderson High School in 1960 and went on to study business and education. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 1964. He later earned a master’s in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. On August 3, 1965, Stan was united in marriage to Karren Friesen of Henderson. They had three children:  Gretchen, Greg and Mindy.
Stan started his career teaching business, math and typing in Harvard, and then Schuyler. While at Harvard, he had the opportunity to coach wrestling and became a well-loved coach and mentor. In later years he enjoyed rekindling his love for wrestling watching his grandson, Henry, wrestle in junior high and high school. In 1973, Stan became principal at Heartland Community School. He and the family eventually moved onto the Boehr homestead south of Henderson in 1978 where he began farming full-time and raised livestock. Stan was the fourth generation on the homestead, which has been in the Boehr family for 140 years.
Stan loved farming and raising cattle and was also an accomplished chess player. Over the years Stan was active on numerous boards including the Nebraska Corn Check-off Board, the Nebraska Farm Bureau and Mainstay Communications. During his tenure with the Corn Board he visited farming operations in China, Japan, Mexico and Brazil. These trips were life-changing. 
In 2022, Stan was elected to the Board of County Commissioners in York County, representing District 3, and sat on a number of committees and boards, including on the Blue Valley Community Action Board of Directors, the Region V Board of Directors and was a liaison with the York County Roads Department. 
After retiring and moving to town last July, Stan continued to work on the farm with his son, Greg, and grandson, Connor. He faithfully attended his granddaughter Allie’s high school events and enjoyed visiting his children and grandchildren in Colorado and Washington. He loved playing games, especially card games like pitch and pinochle. Competitive games with his five siblings and family were special times. During his short time living in town, he was fond of meeting neighbors and driving his blue Schwinn bicycle around town, the same bike he had since age 7.
The fellowship of his weekly coffee group was a highlight of his days. Over the years he enjoyed many activities from teaching Sunday school, leading youth groups at Bethesda Mennonite Church, and playing softball on a community recreation league. What he will be remembered for the most is his deep caring and love for his family, friends and anyone who was fortunate enough to strike up a conversation with him. 
Stan is survived by his wife, Karren Boehr, of Henderson; children, Gretchen (Keith) Bergen of Granby, Colo.; Greg Boehr of McCool and Mindy Boehr (Aaron Staser) of Seattle; grandchildren, Jayden and Henry Bergen of Boulder and Granby; Connor and Kori Boehr of Henderson; Nolan and Allie Boehr of Henderson; and Adelyn, Elin and Fredrick Staser of Seattle. Stan’s siblings include Vivian (Bill) Pereboom of Denver; Stuart Boehr of Minneapolis; Laura Jane Steingard (Dale) of Henderson; Doris Miller of Goshen, Ind.; and Brenda (Jody) Srof of Kalamazoo, Mich.
Memorial services are scheduled for 11 a.m., Monday, April 15, 2024 at Monroe Evangelical Free Church, 1001 West 18th Road, rural Phillips. Private graveside services will be held prior at Bethesda Cemetery in Henderson. Visitation will be held from 1-9 p.m. on Sunday, with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. that evening at Metz Mortuary in Henderson. Memorials may be directed to Swan Lake Christian Camp in Viborg, SD or to Monroe Evangelical Free Church. Condolences may be left for the family at metzmortuary.com. Metz Mortuary in Henderson is handling arrangements.