Edward Bouma

Edward Bouma, longtime resident of Milaca, passed away September 15, 2019. He is survived by his wife, Joyce and their children.  Memorial services will be held Friday, September 20, 2019 at 11 AM at the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca.  Interment will take place at 3 PM Friday at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Little Falls.

Ed was born on January 15, 1931 in Milaca, Minnesota and attended Milaca High School where we was part of the basketball team. He spent several years in the Army as a mechanic and stated he had repaired every type of Army vehicle. He returned to the farm after an early discharge due to a tornado hitting the farm in 1956. He married Joyce Johnson on December 27, 1957. They had four children, Steve, Jean, Pam, and Carla. They have ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Their lives revolved around farm and family during their 61 years of marriage.

Over the years the farm thrived and they won awards for Outstanding Young Farmer and DHIA quality. In the years to come both sides of the family would gather regularly for Christmas, the 4^th of July and other special events.

Ed was one of eight siblings and Joyce was one of eleven. Their children and nieces and nephews spent countless hours roaming the farm on motorbikes, four wheelers, or in the ’65 Chev pickup in which many learned how to drive a manual transmission.

Ed and Joyce were active members of the community and regularly attended the Milaca First Baptist Church. Ed was involved with community groups working for taxation fairness, the Cenex co-op board, and was elected to the Milaca School Board. 

In later years, they leased the land for crops while continuing to live there. They sold the farm in 2015 and rented a home in St. Cloud for 3 years.

They enjoyed trips to the casinos, dining at Perkins and feeding the birds outside their windows.

Ed and Joyce most recently have been living in Plymouth to be closer to family.  

He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce;  children, Steve and Cindy Bouma, Jean and Mike Neis, Pam and Shawn Skramstad, Carla Wildenstein and many loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren.