Tribute to "BOX"

Boxmeyer , Donald H. "Box"~ Age 67 Feb. 11, 1941 - Aug. 10, 2008. Preceded in death by parents Howard and Eleanor; mother- and father-in-law Lillian and Leo Carle; brother-in-law Colin Cotterell; "Adopted" son Ed Gratz; best pal Jim Doyle ("JD"); organ donor and hero Joe Bruender. Survived by devoted wife of 45 years, Kathy (nee Carle); son Chris (Teri); daughter Diana (Ken) Berg; son Erik (Jen); grandchildren Kalie, Jacob and Isaac Berg, Olivia and Natalie Boxmeyer , Charlie and Melanie Adam; and great-grandchildren Shawn, Laynee, Charlee, Catrien and Adam. Also survived by brother Howard (Bette) of Bozeman, Montana; and aunt and uncle, Doris and John Libby of Tucson, AZ. He was lucky to be part of a loving extended family, including brothers- and sisters-in-law Arnold Carle, Darlene and Butz Schwartz, Rich and Sharon Carle, Rog and Bonnie Carle, Judy and Leroy Butler, Janet and Tom DeLong, and Linda Cotterell. He also has many loving nieces and nephews, friend Stan Turner, Maria Manion-Gratz, donor's mom Thora Bruender, and donor's sister and brother-in-law Jan and Tom Schaible. Thanks to many supportive friends and family. Don received a liver/kidney transplant in 2004. He was cared for during that adventure by the exceptional staff at Fairview University of Minnesota Hospital. The medical team who took such wonderful care of Don for many years includes his #1 angel, Ann Kalis, Dr. Ty Dunn, Dr. Sara Shumway, Dr. Tom Ophoven, Dr. Abi Humar and Dr. Hassan Ibrahim, as well as doctors Lake, Buckley, Guessner, Henke, Titone and Fitzpatrick. Don enjoyed weekly lunches with The Tuesday Same-a-Bunch, The Italian Stallions and The Friday Lunch Bunch, and was a member of The Zipper Gang and the West Seventh Boys Club. He wrote for the Pioneer Press for 36 years, retired in 2002 and continued to write on a part-time basis. Don was an avid fisherman, hunter and furniture-maker, and his favorite place was Ashby, Minnesota. In recent years, he loved to spend time with family, especially his grandchildren and his donor's mom and sister in Mankato. He is the author of "A Knack for Knowing Things," published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press in 2003. A Celebration of Don 's Life will be TODAY, 11:00 A.M. at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 8th and Maria, St. Paul. Visitation 1 hour prior to the service at church. Interment will take place at a later date due to a Government snafu.. 678 South Snelling Avenue. 651-698-3878

Updated 9-7-2008

Boxmeyer , Donald H. "Box" ~ Age 67 Feb. 11, 1941 - Aug. 10, 2008. A Celebration of Don 's Life was held on Aug. 15, 2008. He was laid to rest on Sept. 4, 2008, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, the Government snafu finally resolved. "The Deed Is Now Done"
Below you will find a few of my favorite artciles either written by Don or about Don that give you just a glimpse of the man who for many years has touched many lives.

Please click on the title to read the article:

A FINAL DEADLINE, THEN GOODBYE

BECAUSE BOXMEYER WOULD MAKE US CARE, WE DO

A STRANGER'S GIFT LETS LIFE CONTINUE

IN SEARCH OF WINTER'S 'HOLY GRAIL'

DON BOXMEYER 1941-2008 - A LIFE IN PRINT