Kenneth John Boelts

Kenneth John Boelts, age 87 of Ozark, passed away Friday, April 21, 2023.  He was born July 31, 1935 in Buffalo, Iowa, the son of John Boelts and Anna (Smith) Boelts.  Ken attended a country school for eight years, near Woden, Iowa.  He graduated from Woden High School, and attended Waldorf College in Forrest City and Iowa State in Ames, Iowa.  He graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, with a BS in Business Administration, majoring in accounting. 

After graduation Ken always worked in the manufacturing field.  He retired as a controller with Acme Structural in Springfield, Missouri in 2000.  Ken spent two years in the Army, serving his country.  Ken married Marilyn Eppler Strothkamp in 1984.  Ken accepted Marilyn’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and loved them as much as Marilyn did.  Ken was a wonderful husband, grandfather and great-grandfather and was greatly loved by them all.  He enjoyed working in the yard, gardening, collecting eagle paintings, Remington statues, and watching sports, especially football.  Ken and Marilyn joined the Ozark First Baptist Church and were baptized shortly thereafter. 

Ken was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn in 2018; his parents; his sister; Dorothy Mangle; a stepson, Douglas Strothkamp, a brother in law, Gerald Mangle; and a nephew, Kevin Mangle.

Survivors include:  stepchildren, Wanda Fringer and husband Jim of Sparta, Victoria Anderson and husband David of Richardson, Texas, and Mark Strothkamp and wife Cheryl of Rogersville; grandchildren, Kevin Fringer, Brian Anderson and wife Jennifer, Kendra Alcala and husband Mitch, Kathryn McFarland and husband Glenn, Kayla Carte and husband Michael, Grant Strothkamp, and Tyler Strothkamp; seven great grandchildren; a nephew, Lon Mangle; and many friends and neighbors. 

 A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 27 at Adams Funeral Home, Ozark with burial and full military honors to follow at Hopedale Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. immediately before the funeral in the funeral home.