NEW HAMPTON — James LeRoy “Jim” Boos, 93, of New Hampton, passed away peacefully Thursday, September 3, 2026, at Whispering Willow Assisted Living in Fredericksburg.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 9, at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home and Crematory in New Hampton. Burial will follow at New Hampton City Cemetery.
Friends may greet the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 8, at the funeral home. Visitation will continue for one hour before Wednesday’s service.
Tyler Boos, Jake Boos, Dylan Boos, Emily Ackerson, Andrea Carroll and Nicole Boots will serve as pallbearers. Jim’s great-grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers.
Jim was born June 19, 1933, in Canby, Minnesota, the son of Lloyd and Esther (Bechtel) Boos. His family moved several times while farming before establishing their home in New Hampton.
Working beside his father taught Jim how to cultivate the land and care for livestock, beginning a lifelong connection to agriculture. He attended school in Ionia and graduated from Ionia Public High School in 1952.
Jim first caught the attention of Florence “Flo” Jacobs while playing basketball at an Ionia high school game. Their paths crossed again at a skating rink, where he took notice of her. The young romance grew into a marriage that lasted 71 years.
Jim and Flo were married April 11, 1953, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Ionia. They raised three children, Debbie, Jim and Steve, while building their life together near Devon.
Farming was more than a job for Jim. It shaped his routines, values and understanding of a life well lived. He took pride in the farm, worked hard for his family and remained grounded in the friendships formed throughout the surrounding communities.
His ability to build and improve things extended beyond the fields. Jim enjoyed landscaping his own backyard and helping others with theirs. His projects ranged from constructing decks to crafting birdhouses.
Jim also appreciated a spirited card game. He was a skilled player who enjoyed competition and strategy, but the people gathered around the table mattered most. Whist became a favorite Boos family game and provided many memorable evenings with relatives and friends.
The Mississippi River held a special place in Jim’s heart. After purchasing their first boat during the early 1960s, he and Flo embraced life on the water. Their boating years eventually included a houseboat and a home in McGregor, along with lasting friendships formed beside the river.
Jim and Flo traveled widely together, visiting Europe, Hawaii and Mexico and taking numerous cruises. During the winter months, they escaped the Iowa cold for Florida, where visits from their children and grandchildren made their time away especially meaningful.
The couple also shared a passion for the Iowa Hawkeyes. They followed football and basketball and traveled throughout the Big Ten to support their teams. Their adventures included attending numerous bowl games and three Rose Bowls.
Whether Jim was farming, building something, piloting a boat, playing cards or cheering for the Hawkeyes, he found his greatest enjoyment in sharing those experiences with family and friends.
Jim is survived by his daughter, Debbie Wegner of New Hampton; sons, Jim (Carol) Boos and Steve (Shellie) Boos, both of New Hampton; grandchildren, Nicole (Andy Kurtz) Boots of Waterloo, Emily (Matt) Ackerson of Cedar Falls, Andrea (Paul) Carroll of McGregor, Tyler (Erin) Boos of New Hampton, Jake (Sheryn) Boos of Denver and Dylan (Kallie) Boos of Cedar Falls; and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Florence “Flo” Boos; parents, Lloyd and Esther Boos; son-in-law, Gary Wegner; siblings, Dorothy (Bob) Sanderson, Don (Fleta) Boos, Jean (Dale) Steenblock and Jerry (Delilah) Boos; parents-in-law, Nick and Bertha Jacobs; and sister-in-law, Elaine (Jim) Elenz.
Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Jim and his family. To read the complete funeral home obituary or leave a message of condolence, please click here.
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