Millard E. Boek

Westernville - Millard E. Boek, 83, of Stokes-Westernville Road, passed away after a lengthy illness on Saturday, April 11, 2009, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse. Mr Boek was born on July 25, 1925 on the Boek homestead farm near Holland Patent to William and Mable Smith Boek. He attended Holland Patent schools and enjoyed boxing while he was in high school. Following graduation, Millard worked on area farms and at the Holland Patent Feed Store. In March 1945 he entered the Army and served in the Infantry during the occupation of Japan. During his time in the service Mr. Boek boxed competitively, and on one occasion scored a unanimous decision over professional boxer Michael Coad. Millard returned to his family's farm upon receiving an honorable discharge in November 1946. On July 31, 1948, Millard was united in marriage with Ann Sessions at the Boonville Methodist Church parsonage. This was a blessed union that would last sixty years. They settled on the former Draper farm near Boonville which they operated for two years before moving to their present home on Stokes-Westernville Road. Mr. Boek was employed at Rome Cable Company, and later as a rural carrier at the Westernville Post Office, eventually retiring from the Rome Post Office after thirty years of service. During his time with the postal service he also was self-employed in building and home construction in the Westernville area. In the late 1960s the couple purchased and operated a group of fishing cottages at Black Lake in St. Lawrence County. Mr. Boek served two terms as a Town of Western Councilman and he was instrumental in starting the Westernville Little League and Pony League baseball programs. He was a former member of the Westernville Hill Climbers Volunteer Fire Co., and a present member of Charles J. Love Post #406 American Legion and Harland J. Hennessey Post #5538 VFW, both of Boonville. He greatly enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. He was a member and past president of the former Pringle Valley Hunting Club in Highmarket. Millard will be fondly remembered for his talent at baking bread. In addition to his wife, Ann, he is survived by three sons, David E. and dear friend, Susan, of Altmar, Robert L. and his wife, Kathy, of Boonville, and Richard E. and his wife, Michelle, of Rome; five grandchildren, Nicki Christopher and her husband, Glenn, of Chittenango, Stacie Schrider and her husband, Greg, of Cleveland, NY, Eric Boek and his wife, Leah, of Boonville, and Brent and Emily Boek, both of Rome; two great-grandchildren, Devin and Kyler Christopher; one brother, Walter and his wife, Jean, of Washington, DC; two sisters, his twin, Muriel Bause, of Barneveld and Evelyn Horton of Frostproof, FL; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Lester, and by two sisters, Eilene Kirby and Rosemary Corwin. His funeral will be Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler Street, Boonville, where Rev. Chester Lippy, former pastor of Westernville Presbyterian Church will officiate. Interment will follow in Westernville Cemetery with military honors by Charles J. Love Post #406 American Legion, Harland J. Hennessey Post #5538 VFW, and Tun Tavern Marine Corps League #961. Calling hours are Tuesday, 1-4 & 6-9 p.m. at the funeral home. American Legion, VFW and Marine Corps League members will call as a group at 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Westernville Fire Company or to the Salvation Army.