Herman Alvin Boehner made a peaceful transition to his heavenly home on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. He is now safely in the presence and forever in the protection of Jesus in heaven.
Al was born August 6, 1930, to Herman and Clara Boehner in Orange, California, the last of seven children, one older brother, Arno, and five sisters, Dorthea, Hildegard, Ursula, Naomi, and Tsnelda.
He was always hard working and industrious even from an early age. His first job was hoeing weeds in an orange grove for 8 hours a day. At age 12, he started at Mutual Orange Distributers Packing House where he placed labels on the packing boxes. He moved on to picking the green or rotten oranges off the conveyor belt, then to taking the packed orange boxes off the conveyor belt and stacking them. In the summer of 1946, he moved over to Sunkist Packing House where he worked in the pre-cooler and was promoted to loading fruit cars – the rail cars. In 1947 he started at Siler Nash Garage as understudy for parts manager, working at the Mobil service station as well for extra income. He was promoted to parts manager and helped out as acting service manager as well.
On September 1, 1950, his National Guard Unit was mobilized – after three days training, he was a cook in Company I, 224thInfantry Regiment, 40th Division of the 6th Army. He served on active duty September 1, 1950 to May 2, 1952 – reaching the rank of Sgt 1st Class. He then re-enlisted in the National Guard for a short period of time as a Warrant Officer, Junior Grade.
After his service, Al went back to work at the Nash garage and pursued a college education at Fullerton Junior College and then to finish his education at Chapman University graduating in 1957.
On June 15, 1957, rather than attending his college graduation, Al married the love of his life, Carole Kay Petrich at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Orange, California. They built a home next to the house where Al was born and raised their two children, Bob and Linda.
One day in 1960, Al saw a sandwich board sign in front of an employment agency “Wanted all Insurance Trainees”. He filled out a form, was sent on an interview and was hired by Allstate on May 20, 1960. He was placed in a six-month training program going through sales and claims and ending up in accounting. One day he was approached by one of the operating managers and asked if he would like to be a property supervisor from which he became the first property manager for Allstate until his retirement in 1995.
Although he worked very hard, Al loved life and loved to laugh. He was known by all his friends for his wonderful sense of humor and many jokes. Al and Kay were fortunate to be able to travel extensively with some of their friends and see much of the world.
Most importantly, Al was a man of God. He served in many positions and ways in his home church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Orange. He instilled and nurtured a lifelong faith of love of God in all his family.
He is survived by his wife, Kay, son Bob (and wife Helen), daughter Linda (and husband Jeff) and grandchildren Michael, Michelle, Amy, and Emily.
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