Franklin Giddings Boatman passed away at the age of 97 years, five months and nine days at the Frederic Nursing and Rehab Center on June 9, 2017. Frank was born on December 18, 1919 in Laketown Township, Polk County, Wisconsin to Charles Oscar Boatman and Lillian Bell Stanton Boatman. He was the youngest of seven siblings.Â
Frank was raised on a small farm and attended the Pleasant Valley School in Eureka Township and graduated from St. Croix Falls High School in 1937. In 1940 he lived in Minnesota where he met Ruth Mathilda Augusta Kallman who he was married to on June 27, 1941. In 1942 Frank joined the US Navy and after graduating from the Advanced Torpedoman’s in Rhode Island, he was assigned to the USS Jouett that was stationed out of Maine. After Frank served his term in the Navy he and Ruth moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he was employed at Minneapolis Moline in Hopkins. After his retirement they moved to North Center Lake in Center City, MN where they enjoyed fishing and country life. After Ruth’s retirement they purchased the home place near Cushing where she grew up. Â
Frank will always be remembered for his dedicated interest in his and Ruth’s niece and nephews' life activities that they often listened to during their many visits. Frank always had a camera with him. His favorite pictures were of wildlife, their pets and flowers. He enjoyed music and played a guitar. He was a tinkerer and a mechanic and had an outstanding love for repairing and making clocks . Â
He was a life-time member of the American Legion and enjoyed talking about his time in the US Navy. Â
He was preceded by his loving wife, Ruth who died in 2014. He will be buried in their combined plot at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Laketown Township, Polk County, Wisconsin. Â
Funeral services will be held at Trade River Evangelical Free Church in Trade Lake Township - Grantsburg, Wisconsin on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service.  Frank will be laid to rest at Pleasant Valley Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. Military Honors will be presented at that time.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories and photos at
www.rowefh.com . Â Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic, 715-327-4475.
