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Michael Adam Boehm

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Michael Adam Boehm Veteran

Birth
Mandan, Morton County, North Dakota, USA
Death
2 Nov 2010 (aged 89)
Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, USA
Burial
Dickinson, Stark County, North Dakota, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Michael Adam Boehm, a resident of Lincoln, Calif., died at the age of 89 on Nov. 2, 2010, in Sacramento, Calif.

Michael was born in Mandan, May 26, 1921, to Catherine J. (Gress) and Adam J. Boehm and was the third of six surviving sons. As a youth, Michael was an altar boy at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He attended Mandan High School and then Bismarck Junior College.

During World War II from September 1943 to November 1945, Michael attended military schools in North Dakota, Ohio, and Kansas. He pursued training as an air pilot at the Cadet Training Centers in California, Arizona, and Texas. Michael achieved the distinction of Air Flight Instructor and the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps upon discharge.

In 1945, Michael married Viola Schnell, originally of Dickinson. Together, they had six children. Michael worked in Mandan as a telegraph operator for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Michael and his younger brother, Leo, began the Sharon Heights Construction Company in Mandan in the 1950s. Beginning in 1959, Michael worked for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air traffic controller at the FAA center in Fremont, Calif. He retired with over 25 years of government service, having received many awards for exceptional performance.

As Michael and Viola neared retirement, they both completed coursework in Art History and Photography at Ohlone Community College, in Fremont, Calif., and became professional photographers. Michael specialized in travel and nature photography and sold his beautiful photos widely, including to the Sierra Club for calendars. He and Viola traveled to many countries, both for pleasure and to take photos.

He is survived by his six children, Linda (John) Vohs, Sacramento, Calif., Tom (Julie Gridley), San Jose, Calif., Gail (Larry) Mandella, Berkeley, Calif., Nancy (Wayne) Morris, Bronxville, N.Y., Diane (Andrew) Bliss, Hillsboro, Ore., and Jeff, Lincoln, Calif. Nine grandchildren survive Michael, Matthew, Megan, Lauren, Connor, Kira, Joel, Victor, Kora and Rebecca. Four great-grandchildren survive him, Christopher, Theodore, Madeleine and Rafe. He is also survived by two brothers, Ralph, Ridgefield, Wash., and Paul, San Jose, Calif.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents; wife; one sister; and four brothers.

In May 2011, there will be a funeral mass to honor and remember Michael at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mandan, and then he will be buried next to Viola at the cemetery in Dickinson.

Michael's life was characterized by a distinguished Army Air Corps career in World War II, his many years of work and service to the community as a telegraph operator and air traffic controller, his dedication as a father and husband, and his excellent work as a photographer. Michael was known for his outgoing personality, hard work ethic, sense of humor and his belief in education as the key to success.

Source: Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck, North Dakota, November 7, 2010
Michael Adam Boehm, a resident of Lincoln, Calif., died at the age of 89 on Nov. 2, 2010, in Sacramento, Calif.

Michael was born in Mandan, May 26, 1921, to Catherine J. (Gress) and Adam J. Boehm and was the third of six surviving sons. As a youth, Michael was an altar boy at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He attended Mandan High School and then Bismarck Junior College.

During World War II from September 1943 to November 1945, Michael attended military schools in North Dakota, Ohio, and Kansas. He pursued training as an air pilot at the Cadet Training Centers in California, Arizona, and Texas. Michael achieved the distinction of Air Flight Instructor and the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps upon discharge.

In 1945, Michael married Viola Schnell, originally of Dickinson. Together, they had six children. Michael worked in Mandan as a telegraph operator for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Michael and his younger brother, Leo, began the Sharon Heights Construction Company in Mandan in the 1950s. Beginning in 1959, Michael worked for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air traffic controller at the FAA center in Fremont, Calif. He retired with over 25 years of government service, having received many awards for exceptional performance.

As Michael and Viola neared retirement, they both completed coursework in Art History and Photography at Ohlone Community College, in Fremont, Calif., and became professional photographers. Michael specialized in travel and nature photography and sold his beautiful photos widely, including to the Sierra Club for calendars. He and Viola traveled to many countries, both for pleasure and to take photos.

He is survived by his six children, Linda (John) Vohs, Sacramento, Calif., Tom (Julie Gridley), San Jose, Calif., Gail (Larry) Mandella, Berkeley, Calif., Nancy (Wayne) Morris, Bronxville, N.Y., Diane (Andrew) Bliss, Hillsboro, Ore., and Jeff, Lincoln, Calif. Nine grandchildren survive Michael, Matthew, Megan, Lauren, Connor, Kira, Joel, Victor, Kora and Rebecca. Four great-grandchildren survive him, Christopher, Theodore, Madeleine and Rafe. He is also survived by two brothers, Ralph, Ridgefield, Wash., and Paul, San Jose, Calif.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents; wife; one sister; and four brothers.

In May 2011, there will be a funeral mass to honor and remember Michael at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mandan, and then he will be buried next to Viola at the cemetery in Dickinson.

Michael's life was characterized by a distinguished Army Air Corps career in World War II, his many years of work and service to the community as a telegraph operator and air traffic controller, his dedication as a father and husband, and his excellent work as a photographer. Michael was known for his outgoing personality, hard work ethic, sense of humor and his belief in education as the key to success.

Source: Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck, North Dakota, November 7, 2010


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