Gerald 'Jerry' J. Boos

MESA, Ariz. -- Gerald "Jerry" J. Boos, 77, Mesa, Ariz., died Sunday, March 31, 2002, as the result of a motor vehicle accident. His wife also died in the accident.

He was born March 17, 1925, in Chippewa Falls, Wis., to Peter and Sarah (Roehling) Boos. He graduated from McDonnel Memorial High School in Chippewa Falls and received his electronic training from the University of Wisconsin. He began in radio broadcasting in 1942 when he became chief engineer for radio station WIGM in Medford, Wis. In 1944, he became a member of the Navy and was assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C. He worked in the electronic development laboratory and traveled to Tutuila, Samoa, in conjunction with the nuclear bomb test in Bikini Atoll in 1946. His group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Following his return from the service, he built and became chief engineer at radio station WDLB in Marshfield, Wis. He married Mary Jeanne Peters on Aug. 30, 1947, in Marshfield. In 1956, they moved to Owatonna. He joined Duane "Pink" Allen and Bob Behling in purchasing Owatonna Broadcasting Co., the licensee of radio station KOBK, later to be known as KRFO and KRFO-FM. As a co-owner, he was active in the radio station's operation as chief engineer, sales manager and secretary treasurer of the corporation for more than 33 years. The station was sold on Oct. 1, 1989. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He had served as president of Marian-St. Mary's Home and School Association, the Owatonna Exchange Club, the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, St. Joseph's Parish Council, Marian/St. Mary's School Board and the Owatonna Rotary Club. He was chairman of the Owatonna Police Commission, president, secretary and treasurer of the Steele County Amateur Radio Club and served on the Sacred Heart Parish Council. He was a director of the Owatonna Foundation and was currently a director emeritus. He was also holder of a Federal Communications Commission general telephone operators license.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Duenow, Lake Orion, Mich., and Ann Vargason, Owatonna; three sons, Charles Boos, Gresham, Ore., James Boos, Brainerd, and John Boos, Grayslake, Ill.; and 13 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Owatonna. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to St. Mary's School or to the Owatonna Foundation.

Friends may call from 3-8 p.m. Friday with a rosary at 3 p.m. at Brick-Meger Funeral Home in Owatonna.