Thomas L. Boos, Great Bend
February 20, 1939 - September 24, 2023
Thomas L. Boos, age 84, Great Bend, Kansas, passed away Sunday, September 24, 2023, at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned, Kansas. He was born February 20, 1939, in Hays, Kansas, to Paul P. and Irene (Leiker) Boos.
He married Joyce L. White on November 27, 1965, in St. Rose of Lima Church in Great Bend. She preceded him in death on May 10, 2015.
Thomas graduated from Ellis High School in 1957. Following graduation, he enrolled in the U.S. Trade School in Kansas City, Missouri, in the diesel technician program. After completion he was employed as a certified diesel mechanic at Diesel Equipment in Great Bend for over 40 years, many hours of which were spent working in the oilfields of western Kansas.
In 1961 he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War where he served his entire tour of duty and was honorably discharged in 1963.
Thomas, the eldest of nine siblings, along with his brothers, all worked to keep the family farm operating. He enjoyed trips to the farm outside Ellis where he grew up, playing golf, making homemade sauerkraut, watching drag and stock car racing, deer hunting, and playing pinochle with his parents and siblings. He was a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church and a member of VFW Post#3111, both of Great Bend.
He is survived by a son, Philip Lee, of the home, and a daughter, Paula Rae Boos, Seattle, Washington, as well as two brothers, Dennis, Salina, Kansas, and Mark of Ellis, and four sisters, Amelia (Millie) Winterscheidt, Rita Younger, both of Ellis; Lila (Richard) Margreiter, Benton, Kansas, and Barbara Barkley, Lindenhurst, Illinois; and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Thomas was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce, and infant son, Joseph Lee Boos; a brother Gerald Boos, an infant sister Lucy; two brothers-in-law Don R. Younger and Larry Winterscheidt and by his parents.
Services will be held at St. Mary’s Church, Ellis, Kansas, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2023. Visitation will be Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. with a family led rosary at 10:30 all at the church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Great Bend or the American Diabetes Association. Condolences may be shared on Thomas's tribute page at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.
Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel, 400 E. 17th, Ellis, KS 67637.