Al Edward Boeding

Alexis “Al” Boeding, 81, Kansas City, passed away Feb. 3, 2015. Services are Friday, Feb. 6 at 12:00 Noon at St Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 6415 NE Antioch Road, Gladstone, with a Rosary at 11:30.

Born in Sabetha, Kansas, Al was the second child of Ed and Mary Boeding. Al was raised primarily on the family farm outside Seneca, Kansas. Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the US Army and served honorably from 1952-1955. He then returned to Seneca to marry his true love, Lola Woltkamp, on August 20, 1955.

The couple moved to Manhattan, Kansas, and Al studied engineering at K-State University. While in school, their first son Steve was born in 1957, followed by Jeffrey in 1958. The family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1959, and Al began a lengthy career in the electronics industry first with Sperry-Rand. Their only daughter, Annette, was born in Salt Lake in 1961. In 1965, Al journeyed to Boulder, Colorado, to begin work with Ball Brothers. Their son Michael completed the family in 1967.

Al began his entrepreneurial start-ups in Boulder with a variety of small successful electronics manufacturing operations. This self-employed work allowed Al to coach his sons during their baseball playing days. Al had a passion for coaching baseball and influenced the careers of a couple future major leaguers. His patient demeanor and easy-going style was present in the disciplined and steady teams he coached. Al was always willing to play quarterback in neighborhood football games, and since he QB’ed both teams, he finished undefeated.

Al started in the Aviation business beginning in 1985, and the opportunity to build his own aviation training business brought him and Lola back to Gladstone, Missouri, and the Kansas City area in 1989. They were long-time members of St. Andrews parish, and Al was a school staff member affectionately known to the students as Mr. Al. He loved spending time with young people and always tried to support them during their educational journey.

Aside from sports, Al’s other passions included fishing, great conversation, a good book (especially on the Civil War) and a family gathering to share food and fellowship. Al also believed that a good meal, a good drink and a good story with humor was a great time, and he was always there to participate.

Al was a man who quietly practiced his religious faith with conviction and purpose. That faith and the values Al lived by were passed to his children and grand-children. Family was always something Al took great pride in and enjoyed sharing their accomplishments with others.

Al was preceded in death by his parents Ed and Mary Boeding and is survived by his four siblings: Alice Rice (Jim), Kathleen Dowd (Walt), Jim Boeding (Mary Jane) and Paul Boeding (Marilyn), his children Steve Boeding (Diane Bendokas), Jeffrey Boeding (Nikki), Annette Sluman (Donnie) and Michael Boeding (Kim); Al loved his grandchildren: Kellie, Christy, Don, Zachary, Kelsey, Jake and Lauren and great-grandchildren: Logan, Emma, Lexi and Max.

Al leaves legacy of hard work and good humor to all he met. He will be missed dearly by the many lives he touched along the way. Godspeed Al!

*In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Andrew’s Church, 6415 NE Antioch Rd, Gladstone, MO 64119.

Arrangements through McGilley Antioch Chapel, 3325 NE Vivion, 816-453-7700.