Francis Bohnenkamp

TORRINGTON, WYOMING...........A Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for FRANCIS “FJ” BOHNENKAMP 84, at 10am Saturday, January 3, 2009 at St. Rose Catholic Church with The Reverend Father Michael Carr officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Francis died at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska on December 30, 2008. A Rosary/Wake service will be held on Friday at 7pm at the funeral home. Memorials in his honor may be made to the Torrington Volunteer Fire Department. Visitation will be Friday at the funeral home from 3pm thru the rosary but closed at the service. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends may send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com. Francis was born September 22, 1924 in Remsen, Iowa the son of Frank and Sophie (Scharf) Bohnenkamp. He attended school in Remsen and worked on the family farm until December 14, 1943 when he enlisted in the Navy where he served on the USS Orion on the maiden voyage of that ship. During his stint in the Navy he married DonnaBelle Laddusaw at Groton, Connecticut and honeymooned in New York City. After his discharge on December 12, 1946 he returned to Remsen and farmed a number of years. In March of 1959 he moved to Watauga, South Dakota and operated a ranching business. In June of 1965 the family gypsy moved to Mobridge, South Dakota where he had a livestock feeding operation. In the summer of 1967 Francis again put on his gypsy robes and moved to a farm at Torrington, Wyoming where he did custom hay work and cattle feeding. In 1973 he assumed the position of manager at the Stockman Livestock Auction which he held until 1983. In 1979 Francis and Donna moved into the city of Torrington where they resided until 2000 when Donna passed away at which time he moved to Hawk Springs, Wyoming where he spent his summers raising a large garden and enjoyed sharing his produce with friends and family. After leaving the sale barn he continued with his cattle buying business until his death. Throughout his lifetime Francis enjoyed his fishing trips to South Dakota, playing cards, especially the games of pitch and poker. His card playing talents included winning second place in the Saloon 10, Texas Hold’em tournament on New Year’s Day of 2008. Francis is survived by four daughters, Lynn (Quintine) Mertz, of Mobridge, South Dakota, Bonnie Keller of Trail City, South Dakota, Suzanne D’Innocenzo of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Jayne Shimic of Torrington, Wyoming; two sons Pat Bohnenkamp of Douglas, Wyoming, and Jeff (Trish) Bohnenkamp of Torrington; grandchildren, Casey, Jesse, Kirby, and Toby Keller of South Dakota, Nick D’Innocenzo and Kara Gilley of Colorado, Shain Shimic of Gering, Nebraska, Shad and Shay Shimic of Torrington, Mindy and Michael Bohnenkamp of Douglas, Ryan Bohnenkamp of Bahrain; and fourteen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Donna; his son Joe; three brothers Lyle, Ken, and Bill; and a sister Marian Kellen.

Francis Bohnenkamp

September 22, 1924 - December 30, 2008