John William Boeve, age 93, passed away peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 12, 2024. He was born on February 27, 1931, in Phillipsburg, KS, the son of John J. and Rose L. (Kelly) Boeve.
John was a 1948 graduate of Phillipsburg High School and a United States Air Force Korean War Veteran. He married Luetta Elliott on April 27, 1951, in Phillipsburg, a few short months before he joined the Air Force. Luetta traveled with John as he moved from base to base.
When John was honorably discharged, he returned to Phillipsburg to work with his father in the car dealership, Boeve’s Auto Dealership. In 1965 Luetta and John bought the Staatz Hotel and moved to WaKeeney. John and Luetta ran the Boeve Ambulance Service and raised their two daughters at the hotel. He will also be remembered for his love of antiques and other old things that he bought, traded and sold at Boeve’s Coins and Antiques.
John is survived by his wife of 73 years, Luetta; two daughters, Susan Bailey and her husband, David, and Mary Stithem and her husband, Terry, all of WaKeeney; three grandchildren, Sarah Bennett and her husband, Bryan, of Barton, Vermont, Samuel Bailey of WaKeeney, and Seth Bailey and his wife, Hannah, of Lee’s Summitt, Missouri; and two great-grandchildren, Hadassah and Elijah Bailey. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert “Bob” Boeve.
Graveside memorial service will be held at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, WaKeeney on Friday, May 17, 2024, 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital. Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th St., WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Memories and words of support may be left for the family by writing in the guestbook at www.schmittfuneral.com.