Michael Willis Boos passed away December 21, 2023 at his home in Wathena, Kansas.
Michael was born on February 17, 1940 in St. Joseph, MO and was the son of Ed and Marilyn (Pinyerd) Boos of Denton, KS. As the eldest of ten children, Mike naturally developed true leadership skills and was always admired as the level-headed peace-maker of the family.
Mike attended school in the Doniphan County Rural Schools before his family moved to Gower, MO at the beginning of his senior year. He graduated from Gower High School in 1958, Highland College in 1960, and Northwest Missouri State College in 1963. Throughout his early years, he never missed a wheat harvest with the boys. After college, Mike was employed with Swift & Company in St. Joseph, MO for seven years before settling into a 35-year career at the Farmer's State Bank in Wathena...retiring in 2006.
Mike married Karen Ann (Ritter) Boos on August 20, 1966 in Wathena, KS. They were married for over 47 years before her death on February 5, 2014.
Mike was also preceded in death by his parents, brother Stan Boos, brother Steve Boos, and brother- and sister-in-law John Emmett and Kathleen Ritter.
Mike passed along a legacy of family, faith, and hard work to his three surviving daughters: Bridget Shue (Cory) of Wathena, KS; Janna Braithwait (Austin) of Lenexa, KS; and Nan Boos of Wathena, KS. His greatest joy was becoming Papa/Pops to his cherished grandchildren (also known as the Fab Five!): Jarin Evenson (Robin), Grant Shue, Ritter Braithwait (fiancé Elisabeth Shook), Gehrig Shue, and Graycen Shue. He was also so proud to take on the role of great-grandfather to Raiden and Carter Evenson when they joined the family last year.
Additional survivors include: sister-in-law Donna Boos, siblings Linda Waldroop (Bill), Larry Boos (Ginny), Janet Suther (Harlan), John Boos (Dru), Karen Fisher (Paul), Debbie Heiniger (Rick), Marilyn Larson, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Mike was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and the Wathena community, serving in various roles over the years. He was best known for his ability to lead by example with a quiet and patient demeanor. He had a great love of farming, country drives, Griswold family vacations, tinkering in the shed, providing MacGyver solutions to any/all head-scratchers, working in his yard, video poker at the boat or a hand of pitch around the kitchen table, spoiling Nan's pup Chalmers, reading the newspaper, supporting all things Royals baseball, Jayhawks basketball, Wathena Wildcats, Riverside Cyclones, and the list goes on and on. He became a legend as the biggest superfan of any/all activities that involved his grandchildren...from Little League to dance recitals to high school sports to college volleyball...he was always recognized in the stands as Papa!
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mike's memory to St. Joseph's Catholic Church Renovation Fund, Wathena Fire and EMS, or St. Croix Hospice.
Funeral Mass: 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, December 27, 2023. At the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Wathena, Kansas. Rosary: 5:30 P.M. Tuesday evening at the church, with visitation to follow from 6-8 P.M. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Wathena, Kansas. Friends may call after 11 A.M.Tuesday at the Harman-Rohde Funeral Home in Wathena, KS. www.harmanrohde.com
