Donald Gene Boehmer

Preceded in death by parents Malcolm J Boehmer Sr. and Nora (Whittle) Boehmer and brother Malcolm “Mal” J Boehmer Jr. (wife Jeri) infant niece Trudy Ann Boehmer. Surviving is wife Barbara Ann (Moser), Boehmer daughter Amy (Boehmer) Epp, sons Daniel (Linda) and Barry (Carolyn) Boehmer, niece Katrina (Boehmer) Lanius, niece Jill (Boehmer) Stanwick and favorite nephew Larry Boehmer, a few cousins, numerous friends, Grand Children and Great Grand Children.

Don was born in a house off 13 ½ street (now bell view rd.) and State Street in East St. Louis, Illinois. Raised during the great depression and era of segregated schools. Don and Mal enjoyed their youth together. Both brothers commented we were poor, and we did not even know it. Don indicated that Mal was the best older brother one could have. Both boys confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church on Summit Avenue. Don in his youth loved to play fast pitch softball and basketball. Don had multiple friends while growing up, most of which he outlived. Don was St. Louis Browns fan and saw Bobo Holloman throw no hitter on first start with good friend, Pilot Bill Gould. The St. Louis Cardinals became his team for life after Browns moved to Baltimore. Don had summer jobs while growing up and after graduating from East St. Louis High School on 12th street. Don was employed at East St. Louis stock yards and paint pigment manufacturer where he learned to mix paints and ran millwrights’ nut and bolt supply room. Money was saved in shoe boxes with dividers for rent for mother, expenses, and tithing. Don was asked once if he volunteered for the war and his response was no, I was drafted and about froze to death while ducking bullets.

Don was a Korean conflict veteran serving as a front-line Medic. After Army testing Don was to get on the bus for engineers for training on finding land mines but was put on wrong bus for medical personnel. Witnessed the frontline horrors that war generates. Don attended Southern Illinois University on the GI bill. Summers spent working on field projects with his brother Mal for Huntley/Blazier Co. Don made comment that he was dispatched as journeyman because Mal’s wife’s mother was dating the Union BA. Don graduated from college with a degree in economics and minoring in business. He started graduate school at Indiana University and met future wife Barbara (Mosier) Boehmer. One of his Graduate professors was Charles Schultz who years later was Jimmy Carters economic adviser. One of Don’s favorite stories was, Professor Schultz was explaining on chalkboard how the federal government could raise and lower interest rates within manufacturing industries to promote growth such as auto industry. This would also expand into other industries such as retail. Don raised his hand and Schultz called on him by saying “okay Boehmer what is your problem now.” He responded, there is only one man that has been on earth that I would trust with this kind of power, and they nailed Him to a cross. He was not of the liberal persuasion which led him to return to work for his Uncle Robert “Bob” Whittle, who was buying Niehaus Plastering from Harry Niehaus. His daughter Amy was then born.

Don used to comment that his Uncle Bob taught him how to estimate. He went with his uncle to an existing catholic church remodel for interior plastering. Don was struggling with putting pricing together as the remodel work was very extensive. His uncle indicated “no one else knows how much this will cost either, just list the material quantity amounts out individually and we will price accordingly”. Don was also involved with first Monokote® spray fireproofing job done in St. Louis. Bob and Don had to use steel manuals for surface area charts as published surface manuals from Monokote® did not exist yet. The last project Don estimated for Harry Niehaus was the 1st Bush Stadium interior plaster. The St. Louis arch was barely starting to come out of the ground. For personal reasons Don returned to Indiana to work for a plastering company in Indianapolis. His sons were born, and the decision was made to leave the cold climate for Arizona. Barbara had two aunts that lived in Phoenix, Arizona.

Don found employment with Ora Hopper & Son working for Dennis Hopper. Ora Hopper indicated Don was the best estimator that he had seen. In 1978 Don started his own business in Lath, Plastering and Spray Fireproofing “think spray fireproofing say Baymer”. Don’s first large project, at this time, was the largest bag count for Monokote® ever done in Arizona; project completed as subcontractor to Pete King Corp who was contracted with McCarthy. The contract was over 1.5 million for a handshake in an elevator with Mr. Byron Lacey. Don use to indicate Byron was the last honest man in commercial construction. His company was open for 26 years and multiple projects, over four hundred, completed from St. Joseph’s Nursing Tower too multiple schools, office buildings and sports venues.

Another favorite story was Don’s cousin Jack Whittle at the time was running Niehaus Interiors and in Phoenix for AWCI convention and taken by job sites. Plasterer Foreman Dave Lieber got off scaffold, shook Don’s hand, and gave him a big hug, with over spray and all. Jack made the comment “your guys really like you,” Don responded well I like them.

Don was member of Bethany Bible Church for over 44 years. Don enjoyed sports very much. He counted football tackles for Phoenix Christian High School. Ran the starting line for High School track meets. Don especially enjoyed State Track meets as he could talk to all the young men and women. All of them he watched during football, basketball, and volleyball games. Don also taught Monday night economics class at Grand Canyon College. He enjoyed teaching micro and macro-economic classes. Required his students read The Law by Fredric Bastia. Don indicated this was required because of all the slanted economic books he was forced to read. His classes included professional wrestlers, future professional basketball and baseball athletes, State Legislators and Television Broadcasters.

Don exposed his children to multiple life opportunities, loved his wife and family. Don travelled with his family, the State of Arizona, forty-two other states for sight-seeing, athletic events, camping, hunting, and fishing. Don lived a full life, a life full of good and bad experiences. Don’s favorite Bible verse was Galatians 2:20. Your family will see you again inside the Eastern Gate.