Obituary of Anna Margaret Boenish

Ann Boenish, 99, of Dyersville, Iowa died Monday, October 19, 2015 at Oak Crest Manor, Dyersville, Iowa. Visitation will be held 3 – 7 p.m., Friday, October 23, 2015, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where a parish vigil service will commence at 3 p.m., with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at Kramer Funeral Home prior to funeral services. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 24, 2015, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in the church cemetery where military honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 137. Rev. Jeffrey Dole will officiate. Ann (Anna Margaret Matthews Boenish) was born August 8, 1916, in Randolph, Iowa the daughter of Vernon A. and Mattie (Wilson) Matthews. She served in the United States Navy from 1943 – 1945. Ann was stationed in Honolulu, HI where she instructed pilots in the navigational Link System. While there, she met Hans Boenish USMC, who was recuperating in a base hospital from wounds sustained in combat while fighting in Okinawa, Japan. They were married on October 7, 1946, in Imogene, Iowa, following the war and eventually settled in Dyersville in 1958. Ann taught at Western Dubuque Elementary for 20 years retiring in 1983. She was a respected teacher both in and out of the classroom, teaching scores of children to read. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Retired Teachers of Dubuque County, Friends of the Library, American Legion and was an active volunteer in the community. Survivors include her children: Susan (Walter Morris) Schmitt of Houston, TX, Max (Sheila) Boenish of Camas, WA, Hans (Bonnie Bless) Boenish of Sequim, WA, Mary (Buddy) Ramos of Scottsdale, AZ, Mark (Rebecca) Boenish of Rochester,MN, Steve (Kris) Boenish of Dubuque, IA, Vernon (Penny) Boenish of Cedar Rapids, IA, a daughter-in-law, Linda Boenish of Jacksonville, FL, 16 grandchildren: Amanda (Patrick) Methvin, Andrea (Adam) Sides, Stephen Schmitt, Thomas & Zoey Boenish, Hans C. and Anna Boenish, Sarah (Peter) Donovan, David Ramos, Luke Boenish, Brian (Alicia) Boenish, Matthew & Peter Boenish, Dillon (Elizabeth) Boenish, Joseph (Allison) Boenish and Laura Boenish, 6 great grandchildren: Sophia & Madeline Methvin, Amelia Sides, Katherine & Brady Donovan and Pamela Boenish. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hans in 1989, a son, Paul Boenish in 2011, her parents, and three sisters: Grace Matthews, Verna Davis and Helen Barnes. She was the oldest surviving WWII veteran in Dyersville. Ann will be greatly missed by all who were blessed by her generous and kind spirit. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.