"Bill & I were roommates at Wartburg college for a Semester, in the late 1940's. We lately became re-acquanted Via E-Mail.. I appreciated him,his thoughts, and his humor. He surely will be missed. I want to give condolances to Murial Bob Wagner Grand Rapids, MN "
In loving memory of
William "Bill" Boyken
December 3, 1929 - January 12, 2014
William Gerd Charles Boyken was born December 3, 1929 at Algona, Iowa to William and Martha (Fritz) Boyken. Bill graduated from Titonka High School and then Wartburg College. On August 29, 1950, he married Muriel Hanselmann in Streeter, North Dakota.
Bill earned a Master's Degree at the University of Iowa and worked at the Iowa Trust and Savings in Ames. In 1963, his greatest career move, began working at the Eau Claire, Wisconsin Community State Bank. He later taught at Alexandria Tech before moving to Chippewa Falls., Wisconsin. He later joined the Charter Bank in Eau Claire until his retirement. Bill and Muriel moved to a farm near Buffalo Center in 2009 where they lived until shortly before his death.
Bill was a member of Good Hope Lutheran Church in Titonka and was a well known and respected businessman and civic leader in Eau Claire. He lived simply and gave generously. Bill shared the joy of bike riding with his grandchildren. Their annual adventures crossed the states of Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.
Bill died at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona early Sunday morning at the age of 84.
Survivors include his wife Muriel of Algona; daughter Beth and husband Jeff Gilmore of Algona; daughter Bonnie Boyken of Woodbury, Minnesota; son James and wife Karen of Hopewell Junction, New York; six grandchildren Lee Gilmore, Kelly Gilmore Kortenber, Paul Mitchell, Vanessa Mitchell Cannon, Lara Boyken and Graham Boyken; five great grandchildren Alyssa Gilmore, Blake Gilmore, Ada Kortenber, Charles Kortenber and Calvin Mitchell as well as one sister Verdene Ryder of Texas. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Edward, Arthur and Neal.
Tributes
"I just learned of Bill's passing on Facebook and wanted to send my condolences. I met Bill and Muriel very early on when I moved to Eau Claire and grew very fond of them and their support and love for our University softball team! I remember having brunch with them one Sunday after church at Sweetwaters and I was so humbled by their graciousness. Your family is on my mind and in my prayers."
"e of the traditions in the Boyken family was at all the big holidays we'd get together at the home of whose turn it was to host. When I was probably 5, or maybe 6, Christmas was at my Uncle Neal's. I was carrying around this Fisher-Price clock that my cousin Stevie had gotten and wasn't very thrilled with. I kept winding it so it would play, lovingly annoying Stevie. My Grandfather's Clock was the song it played. I carried it upstairs to see if I could get a rise out of any of the adults. Uncle Bill picked me up, sat me on his lap and asked me to show him what I had. So I played it for him. He looked at me, and my sister Melinda was interested too by this time, and he said, "That is a beautiful song. I'm singing it at your wedding." Melinda and I burst into giggles because we thought it was funny, and he looked so serious. And, he said, "I am going to stand in front of the church and sing it as people come in." We died at that. So every year, when we'd get together he'd tell us he was practicing! At the luncheon after our Uncle Ed's funeral, my sister Janine and I were sitting with cousins Beth, Bonnie and Jimmy-and Uncle Bill and Aunt Muriel, and Janine said, "You know, I was disappointed at Meech's wedding. No Grandfather Clock." And, Uncle Bill calmly cleared his throat and sang the entire thing from start to finish! Beth, Bonnie, and Jimmy never knew that whole little scenario and they were dying laughing and Janine and I were crying and laughing because we are too sentimental, it was so sweet and we'd wished Melinda could have heard it too! It was a memory that Janine and I both treasure and will carry in our hearts forever. Yesterday morning, (1/15 at 6 a.m.) Twilight Zone was on. I am a sucker for Twilight Zone, so I watched it. The episode was "Ninety Years Without Slumbering" with Ed Wynn, who can't let an old grandfather clock stop or he'll die. I thought of Uncle Bill and this as I watched it and made a mental note to email him about seeing it. Eight hours later I received a call from Janine asking me if I had heard that Uncle Bill passed away. He is just very, very dear to me. I treasure that. He always reminded me so much of my dad; sweet, loving, funny, a true gentleman. I just love him, and am finding it hard to believe he's really gone. Special memories of him like this one will always be in my heart. Love you, Aunt Muriel, Beth, Bonnie and Jimmy. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Meechie My Grandfather's Clock by Henry Work My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf So, it stood ninety years on the floor It was taller by half than the old man himself And it weighed not a penny's weight more It was bought on the morn that my grandpa was born And was always his treasure and pride But it stopped short, never to go again When the old man died Ninety years without slumbering His life's seconds numbering But it stopped short, never to go again When the old man died My grandfather said that of those he could hire Not a servant so faithful he'd found For it wasted no time and it had but one desire At the close of each week to be wound Yes, it kept in its place but not a frown upon its face And its hands never hung by its side But it stopped short, never to go again When the old man died It rang an alarm in the dead of the night An alarm that for years had been dumb And we knew that his spirit was pluming for flight That his hour for departure had come Yes, the clock kept the time with a soft and muffled chime As we stood there and watched by his side But it stopped short, never to go again When the old man died Ninety years without slumbering His life's seconds numbering But it stopped short, never to go again When the old man died It has been sung by Burl Ives, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Elvis, Johnny Cash and many others, but for me... no one has ever sung it like Uncle Bill. http://www.muzu.tv/foster-and-allen/my-grandfathers-clock-music-video/681622/ "
"Dearest Muriel, Bill and I have been friends since he hired me for my first job out of college in 1984. Through him, you and I also became friends. I have always enjoyed time spent with both of you, whether in Iowa or in Eau Claire. We had many lunches together, the three of us! I have also enjoyed being Bill's e-mail pen-pal since you moved to Iowa. He was a great friend and mentor. I will really miss him. Karen Sharp Chippewa Falls, WI "
"Muriel, Zach and I wanted to share our sadness with Bill's passing. I remember visiting you & Bill in Eau Claire and sharing great memories of Wartburg College together. Visiting both of you was always a pleasure I looked forward to when traveling to Eau Claire. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. Fondly, Penny Prior & Michael Zacharisen "