John French Boehme beloved husband and father, age 86, of Oshkosh, died at his home surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. He was born in Chicago, IL on May 25, 1923, a son of the late Paul and Anna French Boehme. On June 11, 1949 John married Jean Margaret Irmiter in Chicago.

John graduated from Loyola Academy, a college preparatory school in Chicago in 1940, and the following summer served as purser aboard the U.S.S. South American, a cruise ship that sailed the Great Lakes. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and received his degree from DePaul University in Chicago in 1944. John was a life long member of Chi Psi Fraternity. He served his country with the U.S. Naval Air Corp as a pilot.

John began a career in business as the Midwest sales representative for R.S. Bacon Veneer Co. in Chicago in 1948. In 1949 he moved his family to Oshkosh. He formed a company, John F. Boehme Fine Veneers and continued to grow his business through the years. In 1966, he co-founded a curving and spiral stairway company, Arcways Incorporated, locating the factory in Neenah, WI. He was a long time national board member of the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI). He was a founding member of the Stair Manufacturers Association (SMA), set up in 1988 to harmonize national building codes related to stair safety. John sold his business in 1990 and retired.

As an avid golfer, he was a member of the Oshkosh Country Club since 1950. Additionally, John was a devoted Packers fan and season ticket holder since 1959. John was a member of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish and also attended Mass at St. Jude the Apostle- St. Vincent site.

Survivors include John's wife, Jean Margaret Boehme, Oshkosh; one daughter, Patricia Anne Boehme, Washington D.C. four sons, Christopher Peter Boehme, Portland, OR, John French Boehme, Jr, Oshkosh, Andrew Luke Boehme, Appleton, William Jacob (Sharon) Boehme, Oshkosh; also a part of John's family is Susan Boehme, Oshkosh and brother-in-law, Charles Nesbitt, Evanston, IL; sister-in-law, Cathy Flanagan, Parkridge, IL; his six grandchildren, Elena Boehme, Jordan Jacobsen, Erin Boehme, John Boehme III, William Boehme Jr, Madison Boehme. Preceding John in death were his parents, Paul and Anna, one son, Paul Arthur Boehme; one brother, Paul John Boehme; and two sisters, Betty Nesbitt and Mayr O'Brien.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, St. Mary site (605 Merritt Ave.), on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 1 p.m., with Rev. Thomas Reynebeau as celebrant. Visitation for family and friends will be at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Lake View Memorial Park with military honors.

Memorials may be sent to the Oshkosh Unified Catholic Schools and the Oshkosh Boys and Girls Club.

Thank you to Affinity Hospice during the past month and to Caring Connections for their care and compassion the past twelve years, especially Jeanne Tarnawski.

Konrad-Behlman

Funeral Homes

920-231-1510

www.konrad-behlman.com