Artis J. Boddicker
October 06, 2011
Artis Jean Boddicker, 76, formerly of Denison, Iowa and most recently living in Pleasant Hill, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at Iowa Health Hospice Taylor House.
Artis was born January 29, 1935 in Covington, Iowa, the daughter of Hollis and Edna Ralston. She attended Stony Point Country School, Shellsburg Schools and then graduated from Fairbank High School. She then attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette for two years. Artis taught in Marengo for two years and then enrolled in the University of Iowa. While attending the University of Iowa, she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and to Pi Lambda Theta, a national honor association for educators. After receiving her BA degree in 1959 she taught in Palestine, Illinois for one year and then at Longfellow Elementary in Iowa City for four years.
Artis married Joe L. Boddicker on August 10, 1963 and to this union four children were born. Artis was a stay at home mom from 1964 until 1975. During these years she was a member of AAUW, Beta Sigma Phi, and St. Rose Ladies Guild. Artis was a Girl Scout Brownie leader, a homeroom mom for her children’s classes, and taught CCD at St. Rose. In 1975 Artis took a teaching position at St. Rose Catholic School in Denison. She taught first grade there until 1999.
Artis enjoyed reading and was an avid sports fan, especially cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes. In true “teacher” fashion, Artis had a passion for coloring and cutting projects to help her daughter’s students even after she had retired. Above all else, she loved spending time with her grandchildren as they were the true “apples of her eye.”
Artis is survived by her children, Kathy (David) Weingardt of Parker, Colorado, Karen (Dan) Behrens of Pleasant Hill, Iowa and Michael (Ruth) Boddicker of Omaha, Nebraska; grandchildren, Greg Behrens, Drew Behrens, Jessica Behrens and Zachary Boddicker; brother, Kenneth Ralston; nephews, Larry (Renae) Ralston and Randy (Deb) Ralston; other loving relatives and many special friends. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Joe L. Boddicker; daughter in infancy, Susan Mary Boddicker and her parents.
The family will greet friends from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Ss. John and Paul Catholic Church, 1401 1st Avenue South in Altoona. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with burial to follow at the St. Patrick/St. Paul Cemetery in Watkins, Iowa at 3:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Rose Catholic School in Denison, Iowa or the Iowa Health Hospice Taylor House in loving memory of Artis. Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Chrissy Stephens
10/13/2011
Mrs. Boddicker was my first grade teacher in 1991-92. I have thought of the great memories in her classroom alot more recently as my niece is currently enrolled in first grade at St. Rose of Lima. I remember Artis being so friendly and patient! When my loose tooth fell out in the reading corner she was very excited for me and gave me a little treasure chest to put my tooth in. Her excitement for reading rubbed off on me and that's where I truly started to love books and short stories. Such wonderful memories I have of her passion for teaching, she is truly an inspiration. My thoughts and prayers for her family and close friends.
Carol Haberkamp Murray
10/13/2011
Dear Kathy, Karen and Michael,
Your mom and I were high school classmates at Fairbank, and graduated, together, with the class of '53. There were 18 of us, and we were the largest class to, ever, graduate from Fairbank Public High School, until 1959, when the school was beginning to evolve into Wapsie Valley High School, and the Oran and Fairbank high school students were combined, to attend the Fairbank site, while the combined Junior High students moved to Oran. Then, your mom and I, both, attended Upper Iowa University, and were roommates, our first two years, after which we, both, went out to start teaching, on our two year certificates. Also, we were roommates in Cedar Rapids, during the summer of '55, when we worked at the Scrumpshus (sp.) Drive-In, located at 2801 First Avenue, S. E. Two of our Maynard friends (Shirley Paul and Marge Garnier,)
also worked in C. R., that summer, and roomed with us. I might, also, point out that that one, unidentified bridesmaid, in your mom's wedding pictures was, probably, me.
Somehow, through the years, we seemed to have lost contact. I did talk to Shirley Nauholz (another of our Maynard friends, now living at Westgate,) a year or two ago, and she HAD kept up with your mother, and had filled me in some. I THINK I got your mom's address at that time but, somehow, never got a letter written. I HAD written, before our 50th class reunion (in 2003, which turned into an "All-School" Reunion,) but I never received a response. I had gotten her address from your Uncle Kenneth, at that time.
I, almost, missed your mom's obituary. We always pick up the "Sunday
Des Moines Register" at the local Pronto Convenience Store, but I, seldom, read the obituaries. However, my one sister had seen it, and had remembered the name, because she was involved in Buchanan County 4-H activities, when she was young, and knew your dad, from that. Anyway, she e-mailed me, and I looked it up, my self.
Your mom's accomplishments are many. You must be SO proud of her. You have my sincere sympathy in your loss. Also, I was struck by the accompanying picture. In it, she seems to resemble her mother, quite closely, and I never saw that resemblance, when she was young.
Again, my sincere sympathy. I'm sorry we lost contact.
God's Blessings on you, Carol Murray
Jennie (Lally) Stevenson
10/13/2011
I am the youngest of five children. Coming into St. Rose, it was a given that your first grade teacher would be Mrs. Boddicker. My oldest sister, Cheryl-who is 10 years older than I am-had her-along with my 3 other siblings. I felt like I knew her even before I walked into first grade-she was the "legacy" teacher.
When I had heard she passed away, I started to remember my first grade experience. Being a 4th grade teacher today,I had quite the "aha" moment while remembering Mrs. Boddicker and first grade.
I remember being called back to the small groups in the back of the room so Mrs. Boddicker could work with the different reading levels in the room. While she worked with these groups, the other students had different activities to be working on that enhanced the reading process. *Today, we call this guided reading-a program that we've been implementing for the past couple of years in my school district-to ensure that we reach each student at his or her own reading level.
Mrs. Boddicker had a "Word Bird," that she used daily. She came up with a different word each day and told us the meaning of the word. The purpose of the "Word Bird," was to expand our vocabulary.
*One of the skills in reading for my 4th grade students is to expand their vocabulary. It's a "newer" concept that we're teaching them to do in order to broaden their vocabulary both in their speech and while they read.*
She also had, "Sammy the Sun." The purpose of Sammy was to tell us something interesting or fascinating that we did not know. Sammy was connecting our learning to real life. *Today, in my classroom, we call this connecting text to real-life situations. It's also part of the guided reading program.*
Both "Word Bird," and "Sammy the Sun," were highlights of the first grade room. Ask any student of Mrs. Boddicker, and they will remember these two characters.
My "aha" moment made me realize that all these new techniques, teaching styles, and concepts that we've been having inservices and teacher meetings about since I started teaching just 6 years ago-Mrs. Boddicker had figured out 23 years ago when I sat as a student in her room. I was pretty amused while remembering my 1st grade experience because all these "new" models of teaching that are being presented today were being done all along in the small, corner 1st grade classroom at St. Rose of Lima in Denison, Iowa 20+ years ago.
I had not seen Mrs. Boddicker in many years, and I was saddened by the news of her death, but I know that her life is truly being CELEBRATED. To say she touched countless lives would be an understatement. She's the reason many of us St. Rose alum are teachers today-what an amazing legacy to leave behind! As a teacher today, I feel so blessed to have that "legacy" teacher guiding me each and every day.
Word Bird and Sammy the Sun are making their debut in my classroom this morning....in memory of Mrs. Boddicker. I can not wait to tell my students all about Mrs. Boddicker, and what I remember from her. I know they will want to share stories about their "favorite teacher," and I'm going to make sure to set aside a good chunk of the day so we get to do so. :) We will be celebrating Mrs. Boddicker's memory today-but her legacy will continue to shine on in my classroom.
Amy Leinen Guldner
10/12/2011
To the children and grandchildren of "Mrs. Boddicker" -
I was so saddened to learn of your mom/grandma's death. I really only knew her as my 1st grade teacher at St. Rose (1977-78) but wow...what an amazing teacher. I can still to this day picture her classroom and her warm loving face as she masterfully taught our class. The world's loss is Heaven's gain! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time!
Jacki Anthony
10/11/2011
Your mother was a wonderful lady. She taught all 3 of my children at Saint Rose and in fact 2 of them are now into the field of education.
What a great role model and a very special lady. God bless the family,may she rest in peace,God bless her soul.
Nancy & don Ros
10/11/2011
Kathy, Karen, Mike and Families....
We are so sorry not to be with you all today during Artis' services and burial. Please know that we have been thinking of you and praying for you in your grief over these last days since we heard about Artis' death. She has been a staunch friend over many years.....as a teaching colleague, as a roommate, as a "young married," and as we have corresponded and matured together through the years. God be with you.
Take care -
Nancy and Don Ross
Nancy Weingardt
10/11/2011
Hi Artist,
I am very sorry to loose all you offered to this world. Your soul lives on. I'lll miss you. You are an ammazing women. Your spirit lives on.
All my love, Nancy-dave's sister, Kathy's sister in Law
Eileen (Lally) Sailer
10/10/2011
To the Artis Boddicker family: We send our condolences to your wonderful family as you mourn the loss of your mother and grandmother. She was an extraordinary teacher and so dedicated to the profession. St Rose School was so lucky to have her expertise teach our first-graders for so many years. She gave them a jump-start on their learning. God's richest blessings on you all!
Tom Cooper
10/10/2011
I worked with Artis from 77-81 and without a doubt she was the best first grade teacher that I have been associated. She had perfect discipline without raising her voice and this is when we had about 30 students in her classroom. The students new she loved them and would do anything for them. I was fortunate to have her as a teacher during my tenure as principal at St. Rose! She is definately "St. Artis" to many of us!
Rich & Evie Weingardt
10/09/2011
Dear Artis (and her children):
In addition to having been a wonderful influence on, and an inspiration to your children and all of our family, you have greatly and favorably impacted all of those who knew you. We'll always remember the moments we shared...and the glint in your eye when you came up with a special, very funny and convincing word we all bought off on when playing Balderdash. Best and warm wishes for your new days in Heaven and in joining your beloved Joe. With love, Rich and Evie
Susan & George Whitworth
10/09/2011
Dear Artis, As my final good-bye to you, I would like to say what a respected person you are who chose me as a pen-pal even though it was physically hard for you to be a pen-pal. I always enjoyed your letters about your grandchildren, basketball, and the letter when you sent a balloon to Joe. We will miss you, Artis. George and I also are still thankful to you for sending us cookies and chocolates at Christmas. Love George and Susan Whitworth
Norma Gehring
10/09/2011
My heart-felt sympathy to A.J.'s family. We met as first year teachers in Marengo over 56 years ago. For 5 years Artis was almost another of my sisters, as we shared going to Hawkeye sporting events, U of IA classes, our personal license plate game, Inquiry classes with Monsignor J.D. Conway at the Newman Center... often with Edith. Artis and I (and another sister or two) took turns driving to AZ and later to D.C. and interesting sights nearby. A lot of fun times.
A.J. (I can hear her mother say "Artis Jean") never liked to ask a friend for a ride to work, which may be the reason for taking the train from Chicago to Independence, IA. Her father met us and took us to Oelwein where Artis bought her first car even before she had a driver's license. I was a little leery of being the first to drive it , knowing how she'd dread the first scratch.
Fainting in public places_ movie theater, church, department store. was something we
shared,maybe so Edith could practice what she was learning in medical school.
A.J. made birthday celebrations special __original cards and Presidents Hoover and Truman at West Branch (I don't think that was managed by Artis for me, but she could have), and all sorts of preparations I'd see for Kathy and Karen's August birthdays when I'd stop in Denison on my way to AZ.
My life and that of many of my siblings were made richer because of knowing Artis Jean (and Joe). Thanks for the memories A and J !!
Juanita McCabe
10/09/2011
My husband and I want to offer our sincerest condolences on the loss of your mother. If she was 1/10th as good of a mother as she was a first grade teacher, you had a spectacular monther.
Our daughter Allison had your mother as her first grade teacher the year we moved to Denison. She had not been taught to read in kindergarten as the rest of her class had at St. Rose. She was one mad and upset six-year old when she found this out. Of course, your mom made an extra effort to bring her "up-to-speed" - which was just one of the ways that made her our daughter's favorite teacher throughout her school years. [My personal favorite was reading the daily newspaper that each student took turns "editing" - an astoundingly good educatrional tool.]
I can just hear our daughter's converstion with her newborn son when he goes to first grade and chatters about his teacher, for she will say - "Yes, Sam, I understand you have a great first grade teacher, but let me tell you about Mrs. Boddicker."
May all your special memories of your mother help you during the coming days. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Greg and Juanita McCabe
Patti Weaver
10/09/2011
I really enjoyed visting with Artis at meal time. She was a soft spoken and very sweet lady,she will be sadlly missed by all who knew her.
My thougts and prayers are with her family.
WITH LOVE PATTI WEAVER
(former cook Courtyard Estates)
Kathy Perret
10/08/2011
I just finish blogging on my reflections for this past week on my blog: http://learningisgrowing.wordpress.com/ - part of which was about the passing of my very first teacher-mentor and good friend, Artis Boddicker. I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity than starting my teaching career at St. Rose across the hall from a true MASTER TEACHER.
Her gentle, fun-loving spirit and passion for education were inspirational. Her dedication to her work and her students was awe-inspiring. Her own creativity lead way to the creative spirits of her students. She inspired her students to be respectful of each other and their surroundings. I marveled at her young first graders as they became readers and writers. She truly loved going to school EACH day and teaching was in deed her lifes calling. She found her passion and lived it out each day, even into her retirement years as she assisted her daughter in her own teaching career. She found what she loved to do and did it with pride. She lead by example. She inspired greatness for all who were fortunate to join her in her lifes path.
I am blessed to have known Artis and her family. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you right now. Peace, my friends!
Kathy Perret