Eli John Leo Boucher, 99, Olathe, passed away peacefully Thursday,
October 8, 2020, at Silvercrest Independent Living Community, Lenexa, KS.
He was born May 16, 1921, to Edward and Blanche Boucher, in Zurich, Kansas, the 8th child born into a family of 9 children.
Eli grew up on the family farm during the 1920’s and 1930’s. He
shared many memories of family life and the hardships of farming,
especially during the ‘dust bowl” years.
He graduated from Palco
High School, Palco, KS in 1939. In the fall he moved to Hays, KS to
attend Fort Hays State University. He graduated from FHSU in 1943 with
BA degree in Math and Physics.
During his college years he met a
beautiful young nurse named Irene Imelda Linenberger from La Crosse, KS.
They married November 25, 1942 in St. Michael Catholic Church in
La Crosse. Wherever they lived over the years, they were active members
of the Catholic parish in that city. They remained devoted to each other
until Irene’s passing in 2006.
Eli was called to active duty
during WWII in January 1944. He served in the Army Air Corp until the
end of the war in 1945. He then began a career in education as a
classroom teacher in Lincoln, KS. He received a MA in Education
Administration from the University of Kansas in the spring of 1950. His
first administrative position was as high school principal in
Minneapolis, KS. Later he became the Superintendent of Schools in
Glasco, KS, and finally the district superintendent for USD 395 in
La Crosse, KS and USD 401 for Chase-Raymond, KS. For many years after
retiring from education, Eli was the coordinator of the Western KS Tax
Volunteers. After retiring from his community tax service duties and
Irene’s retirement from nursing, They moved to Olathe, KS in 2004 to be
near family.
Survivors include three sons, Greg and wife Linda,
Bogart, GA; Brian and wife Margaret, Alma, KS; and Dana and wife
Jeanette, Fairway, KS; two daughters Cheryl Wunder and husband Rich,
Olathe, KS, and Michele Heidrick and husband Max, Beloit, KS; 11 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded
in death by his wife Irene, parents, Edward and Blanch, brothers Adlore,
Paul, Hector, and Edmond, and sisters Jeanette, Theresa, Alma, and
Mary.
A visitation will be held from 6:30-8:00PM Monday. October
12th at Penwell-Gabel Olathe Chapel, where the Prayers of the Rosary
will be offered at 6:00PM.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at
1:00PM Tuesday, October 13th at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Olathe, KS.
Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Lenexa, KS.
Memorials
may be given to Fort Hays State University, The Sisters of St.
Joseph,1300 Washington St, Concordia, KS 66901, or the American Stroke
Foundation, 6405 Metcalf Ave., Suite 214, Overland Park, KS 66202
http://www.americanstroke.org