A lifelong resident of Medina County having family ties that go back to the Castro Colony passed away Thursday, July 23, 2009 at the age of 91 years. He was born September 26, 1917, on the Bohl family farm, to Emma Keller Bohl and Leo A. Bohl, Sr. He enjoyed saying that "He had the dubious distinction of growing up in the tri-city area". That being the metropolis of Black Creek, Biry and Shookville, where he worked on his father's farm and went to Shookville School, grades 1 through 9, then to Devine for grades 10 through 12, graduating in 1935. After school, he worked with his father who was partnering with Hartley Howard in the cattle business. He said, "He spent many a night sleeping on the ground, because everything was done on horseback. Without trucks it was too far to ride home and be back at daylight to find the calve that had screw worms." During the war years, 1939-46, the Bohl's enlarged their farm and ranch operation. The government's need for food and peanuts to produce penicillin made for some very good years. By the end of the war, the Bohl farm and ranch was farming 1,000 acres and had 200 head of beef cattle. All this was done with 3-two row tractors and 4 teams of mules. They produced peanuts, grain sorghum and broom corn. Mr. Bohl married Dorothy Marie Schneider of Castroville on November 15, 1945 in St. Louis Catholic Church, and celebrated 62 years of marriage. His beloved wife, Dorothy, was taken by our Lord on November 6, 2008. Together, they had five children, Eugene Bohl and wife Debra of Kermit, Christina Wallace and husband Billy, Thomas Bohl and wife Sharon, Theresa Standage all of Devine, and Donald Bohl and wife Tracey of Castroville; 10 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; sister, Geraldine Bohl Arnold of Devine; sisters-in-law, Frances Etheredge and Myrtle Schneider both of Castroville; brother-in-law, Andrew Schneider of D'Hanis; and numerous nieces and nephews. Two brothers preceded him in death, Leo A. Bohl, Jr. and infant Louis Walter Bohl. Mr. Bohl was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devine and the Knights of Columbus. His political career spanned over 35 years. He was elected 19 times to the post of A.S.C.S. Committeeman. He served on the Emergency Drought Committee in the 1950's. He was appointed to the Loan Committee for drought relief where he served 12 years. He held the office of District Clerk of Medina County for 16 years. in the 1940's and early 1950's, he served on the Board of Equalization for the new formation of school districts. He also served the City of Devine as President of the Chamber of Commerce and he helped organize the Devine Clean Town parade committee. After 16 years of public service as District Clerk, Mr. Bohl retired back to his first love, the farm and ranch where he raised and showed champion red poll cattle for many years. Mr. Bohl resided at the Medina Valley Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Castroville for the last 1 1/2 years of his life. He was an active committee member and wrote for the monthly newsletter. He especially enjoyed visits from family and friends, and the time he spent with staff member's children as they joined him on a weekly basis during the summer session for lessons in local history. He was a contributing author for local history book, "Tales Told and Retold." Francis J. Bohl was an extraordinary man and will be greatly missed.

From: www.tondre-guinn.com