Boeh, John D. 1952-2025 St. Joseph, Mo.
John Dixon Boeh, 72, of St. Joseph, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in St Joseph. He was born on Sept. 20, 1952, in St. Joseph, to Vincent and Geneva Boeh.
John graduated from Wathena, Kansas, High School class of 1970. He then graduated from Washburn University with his bachelor’s degree in 1974, followed by his law degree from the Washburn University School of Law in 1977. In 1981, he married Andrea Sparks.
John believed that every person deserved to have their day in court. His desire to help others led him to a career in public service. He began his career as a public defender and later became assistant city attorney, city attorney, and city prosecutor. He was then elected to the position of Municipal Court Judge for the City of St. Joseph, a position that he held for 21 years until he retired in 2021.
John enjoyed the simple things in life, whether it was spending time with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren, or whether it was golfing and fishing with his friends. John had friends from all walks of life. He believed that every person mattered and he saw the potential in people who might not have even recognized that potential in themselves.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent and Geneva Boeh; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, James and Rosemary Sparks; his brother, Steve Boeh; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Boeh and Valerie Stehle; brothers-in-law, Gary Stehle, Bill Lark and James Sparks; and his great-nephew, Gary Michael Stehle. He was also preceded in death by one of his best friends, Ron Fisher.
John is survived by his wife, Andrea; his daughters, Bethanee (Matthew) Hamilton and Monica Boeh; and his two grandchildren, Henry and Madeline Kate Hamilton, who he loved more than anything in this world. He also leaves behind his sister, Maribeth (Ken) Lee, as well as many nieces and nephews, and lifelong friends.
A private burial and celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In honor of John’s daughter, who has muscular dystrophy, donations are suggested to the FSHD (facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy) Society. https://give.fshdsociety.org/give/426123/#!/donation/checkout
Online obituary and condolences at www.ruppfuneral.com. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
