Artis J. Boddicker

October 06, 2011

Service Details

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

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