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Harry J. Boyum
1915 - 2003
Harry J. Boyum, 87, formerly
of 902 N. Second St., died Sept. 24, 2003.
Funeral services were held at St. Henry Catholic
Church with the Rev. Bernard Rott officiating. Burial, with military graveside
rites by American Legion Post 189, was in the parish cemetery for this WW II veteran.
Harry was born Nov. 3, 1915, in Stoughton, the son of
Andrew and Josephine Boyum. He served during World
War II in the 252 Air Artillery Unit in the European
Theater. On
Harry and his wife Alice ran the former Boyum Grocery on
I
have the fondest memories of stopping there, I swear after school every night
walking home, and yes for ten cents or so it seemed like I got a bag of
candy!! The Indian-whatever salted pumpkin seeds in the red and white
bag, the twister hard.sour candies, the sweet tarts,
those dot candies on the paper strips, yes . . . that stuff !! I can
picture yet being in that store, at the counter, looking around at the candy
counter to the left, the ice cream freezer to the right, all about the size of
a small walk in closet
[contributed memories].
He was a member of St. Henry’s Catholic Church,
American Legion Post 189 and the Knights of Columbus where he served as
treasurer for many years.
Survivors include two sisters-in-law, Rosemarie Boyum of Lake Mills and Lucille Boyum
of Beaver Dam; nieces; nephews; great nieces and nephews; other relatives and
friends.
He was further preceded in death by his parents; two brothers,
Andrew and Edward Boyum; and one sister, Katherine
Wolff.
SURVIVORS:
Sister-in-law Rosemarie Boyum of Lake Mills
Sister-in-law Lucille Boyum of Beaver Dam
Nieces; nephews; great nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends
PRECEDED IN DEATH:
Parents Andrew and Josephine
Wife Alice
Brother Andrew
Brother Edward
Sister Katherine Wolff
Watertown Daily Times, 6 June 1944
Pfc. Harry Boyum has been transferred from Fort Benning,
Ga. His new address is: Btry. C., 252 F.A. Bn., Camp Rucker, Ala.
Watertown Daily Times, 22 December 1944
Two
brothers, Pfc. Harry Boyum and Pfc. Andrew Boyum, met in
Germany.
Watertown Daily Times, 09 29 2003
Editor, Daily Times:
The death of longtime Watertown resident, Harry Boyum, marks the latest example of someone passing away
from what author Tom Brokaw called "The Greatest Generation." These
individuals grew up during the Great Depression and World War II. At a time
when they should have been enjoying life, these men and women were risking
their lives for the cause of freedom. Brokaw states, "They answered the
call to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military
machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in hands of fascist
maniacs." Harry Boyum was many things to many
people but he unmistakably was a veteran of WWII, with extensive first-hand
exposure to the brutality of war and dictatorships in Germany and Europe.
Brokaw also states "this generation was united
not only by a common purpose, but also by common values - duty, honor, economy,
courage, service, love of family and country and above all responsibility for
oneself." So true for those of Harry's generation, yet much less so for
those who have come after this special group of Americans.
Harry and his wife, Alice, operated a small
neighborhood store on North Second Street, called Boyum's
Grocery for over 30 years. This grocery store was first opened and operated by
his uncle, Joseph Fischer, in 1909. I remember as a youngster attending St.
Henry's, the thrill of racing down to Boyum's Grocery
prior to school, to buy a bag of penny candy. He loved seeing kids come into
his store and had no problem with giving them more treats than what they had
paid for, sometimes to the displeasure of his wife.
This neighborhood store also had their house within
the same building, so they were never far away, in terms of providing a level
of service that businesses today could not match. It was not unusual either for
customers to buy items at Boyum's Grocery "on a
tab," with the terms of payment to be worked out later. The remarkable
thing about stores like Harry's is that they made a living doing it, and they
took pride in what they were doing for a living. Sadly, this same opportunity
is not realistically available today.
Like so many others of his generation, Harry was
actively involved in his community. He served in the Knights of Columbus for 25
years, was a lifetime member of the American Legion and was an active member of
St. Henry's Parish. Until a few years ago, while Harry's wife was still living,
the two of them would regularly attend Mass, at times on a daily basis, if the
weather permitted. Seeing the two of them crossing the street, at the corner of
Cady and Fourth Street, was inspiring, and a bit entertaining for other members
and anyone else going by. They stopped traffic, but it did not stop them from
attending church.
These virtues mentioned earlier, of community
service, practicing your faith, love of country, hard work ethic and personal
responsibility, are ones reflective of Harry Boyum
and many of his generation, yet the same cannot be said of the Baby Boomer
Generation, Generation X and those growing up in today's world. The
consequences for our nation and all local communities will be obvious and
negative, unless something happens culturally to turn things around.
Ken Berg