John Boer passed away peacefully on October 29, 2022 at Bethany Home in Ripon at the age of 96. John was born to Martin and Grietje Boer in Waukena, California.
His family moved to Ripon in 1936 where he attended Ripon schools. In May of 1944, during WWII, he was drafted into the Navy where he served until May of 1946 as a signalman aboard the USS Atrium supply ship. John met Evelyn Gelderman at a church picnic and they were later married on November 28, 1949. In the early years of his marriage he worked on his father’s dairy during which time his two daughters were born. After leaving the dairy business, he worked as a truck driver. The last 22 years of his truck driving career were with Fairbanks Trucking. In 1985 he competed in and took First Place in the California Truck Association Rodeos State Finals flatbed doubles.
In retirement, John and Evelyn enjoyed traveling with their RV through Canada and parts of the US, and an Alaskan cruise with their two daughters. John loved to fish and spent every April camping and fishing at Don Pedro Reservoir with his wife and friends. He enjoyed woodworking and creative projects in his shop, as well as daily visits to the coffee shop. One of the highlights of John’s life was traveling in June of 2016 with his daughter, Jeanne, along
with other Veterans on the Honor Flight to Washington DC recognizing Veterans for their service to our country.
John is preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, of 63 years, his sister Dorothy, brother Gerret, and great- granddaughter Catina. He is survived by his sister, Helena DeWeerd, of Mountain
Home, Idaho, his brother Martin Boer, of Dalhart, Texas, his daughters, Jeanne Elliott of Newnan, Georgia, and Lori Boer of Ripon, as well as three grandchildren, Melissa Salinas (Ramon) of Ripon, Nathaniel Elliott and Deirdre Elliott (Matt) of Newnan, Georgia, and five
great-grandchildren.
Committal will be held at Ripon Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, 2022, followed by a Celebration of Life at Deegan Memorial Chapel at 2:00 p.m. Remembrances
may be made to Bethany Home, 930 W. Main Street, Ripon, CA 95366.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Saturday, November 5, 2022
