BOHM, Duane L. - b. August 5, 1931 - d. October 11, 2020

[patyrn]

Duane L. Bohm, age 89, of Ottawa, Kansas and formerly of the Elk Falls, Kansas area, passed away October 11, 2020 at his home.  He was born August 5, 1931 on the family farm north of Athol, Kansas to Frederick and Viola (Smith) Bohm.

Duane grew up with two brothers and one sister, attending school in Athol and graduating from Athol High School in 1949.  He then attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas for two years.   On August 17, 1952, he married Alice Marie Rogers in Franklin, Nebraska.  They had two children and were married for 51 years until her passing in January 2004.  On June 12, 2010, Duane married Shirley (Fisher) Sweet in Elk Falls, Kansas.  They have enjoyed the last ten years together.

As a young man, Duane fell in love with farming and hoped to make that his career path like his father.  Health issues didn't allow him to continue on the farm, but he never forgot his passion for the land.  He would spend weekends out on the farm in Elk County, Kansas, bringing the entire family with him.  He worked in the aerospace industry in Wichita, Kansas as an engineer, working for several different companies throughout his career.  He even continued doing contract work for some of them in Texas and Seattle after retiring in the early 1990s. 

Duane was able to move to the Elk Falls area and spent time on the farm, tinkering on machinery and just enjoying the land. He was active in the Friends of Elk Falls helping restore things around town and in the Elk Falls United Methodist Church.  He loved woodworking and was known for his wood carvings.  Later in life, he and Shirley moved to Ottawa, Kansas to a retirement village.

Duane is survived by his wife, Shirley; his children, Clayton (Debby) Bohm of Garden City, Missouri and Karen (Russ) Vallier of Chanute, Kansas; his stepsons, Brian (Debi) Sweet of Chapman, Kansas and Tom (Christie) Sweet of Edgerton, Missouri; his brother, Ross (Beverly) Bohm of Yuma, Colorado; 3 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 9 step-grandchildren; 2 step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded ind death by his parents; his wife, Alice Marie; his brother, Wendell Bohm; and his sister, Dolores Lyon.

Graveside service will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the Elk Falls Cemetery in Elk Falls, Kansas.  The family will receive friends at visitation on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, Kansas.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Elk Falls United Methodist Church and can be mailed or left with the funeral home.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)