Roger Boerboom
Roger Boerboom, age 80 of Olivia, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, November 23, 2024. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 10:30 am at St. Aloysious Catholic Church in Olivia with Father Joe Steinbeisser as celebrant. Burial will be in the Olivia Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, November 29, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Olivia concluding with a rosary and prayer service at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Military honors will be provided by the Olivia and Bird Island Honor Guards. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia.
Roger Daniel Boerboom was born August 17, 1944 in Marshall, MN to Joseph and June (LaVoy) Boerboom. He spent his childhood on farms near Marshall, then later near Walnut Grove and graduated from Walnut Grove High School in1962. He enlisted in the Army with lifelong best friend, Leon VandeWiele, on the buddy program and served from 1963-66. He served in Korea before being transferred to Fort Eustis, Virginia as a Marine Engineer. He married Karen Eischens on May 4, 1968 at the Church of St. Leo and they raised their three children in Olivia. Roger was an auto mechanic owning two full service gas stations for 20 years before moving on to trucking for another 30 years.
Roger found joy in traveling with Karen to Branson, MO and Sedona, AZ, spending time with his grandchildren, fishing, doing puzzles, playing Sudoku, and recounting tales from his trucking journeys. He would strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone to share in his stories and adventures. He was a lifelong member of the Olivia American Legion and St. Aloysius Catholic Church. He was an active member and Past President of the Olivia Lions Club and delighted in dressing up as Santa Claus to bring cheer to children in the community. He also spent time as a leader in the local Boy Scout Troop, enjoying some of their camping expeditions, especially trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Roger is survived by his wife of 56 years, Karen; his children, Daniel (Kathy) Boerboom of Inver Grove Heights, MN; Sherri (Mark) Shears of Minnetonka, MN; and Jill (Ray) Boehme of West Fargo, ND; his grandchildren, Carissa, Nathaniel, and Mathias Boerboom, Marten Shears, Kaitlin (Ole) Sandry, and Hailey Boehme; his siblings, Clarence Boerboom, Robert (Bonnie) Boerboom, Bernie (Marianne) Boerboom, Cathy (Marv) Stavig, Dale Boerboom, Bruce (Lois) Boerboom, and Richard (Donna) Boerboom; his extended family including in-laws and spouses as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Blessed Be His Memory