Boehm, Randel D.

Through most of his driving career with ABF, St. Louis to Little Rock was his normal route, unless there was the slightest chance of snow. In that case, he wasn’t going anywhere but to his recliner with The Weather Channel on the TV.

If only there were a chance of snow, it might have kept him with us a little longer.

On December 4th, 2023, after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer just three short months prior, Randel (Randy) D. Boehm, 78, of St. Louis, MO, died peacefully at his home with his wife and daughter by his side.

Randy was born in St. Louis in 1945 to James and Maxine, who raised him along with his three brothers, Leo, Tim, and Chris, in a modest corner house in Lemay. Randy attended Hancock High School before joining the Navy in 1965. His service was cut short after being involved in a horrible automobile accident that took the life of his friend and put him in the hospital for nine months. After his release from the hospital, he was honorably discharged and returned home.
His military service would play an important role later in life.

Randy met the love of his life, Janet in 1962 when her brother James brought him to the house to play pool. When Janet walked out of the room after a game of pool, Randy told James, “I’m going to marry your sister.”
Although the reaction wasn’t quite the same the first time Janet saw him. Randy was picking James up and she asked her mother, “Who was that dork?” Little did she know.
Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married on the 9th of January 1965 in St. Louis.

Randy and Janet couldn’t wait to start a family of their own, and their children meant the world to them. Steve was born on the 29th of June 1969 followed by Tammy, born on the 16th of August 1972. They now had a family of their own, and it’s been said that Steve would not leave Tammy’s side when she came home from the hospital.
The family would often take summer vacations with other friends and families, mostly traveling by car. Since these trips were the days before Google Maps and mini vans, this involved loading up the station wagon and relying on Randy’s extensive knowledge of the highway systems and good old paper maps. Janet would pack up some travel food, the kids would have their pillows for road naps, and off they’d go. And you better make sure you went to the bathroom before you hit the road because Randy wasn’t stopping until the gas tank needed filling.

Though he was adamant about providing for his family, working multiple jobs to do so, Randy’s favorite role was that of a grandparent. He treasured his time with his grandkids, Brad, Ryan, and Jack, and great-grandkids, Helena, and Rochelle, and was excited about the baby boy on the way. He loved being their “Papa”, never failing to shower them with gifts or watch them whenever asked.
Brad, being the first grandchild, even had the honor of a personalized license plate on his cars. A high honor in Randy’s world.

Though he would never admit it, Randy had a soft spot for furry friends, treating each like a valuable family member they were. Marty was the first family dog since having children, followed by his favorite dog Cookie, along with many other grand-dogs and great-grand-dogs through the years. He would spoil the dogs just as much as the grandkids, always with a lap and a treat ready and waiting. He will be greatly missed by Coco, Chewy, Pepper, and Athena.

Randy discovered early on in his career that he belonged behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Starting as a driver for Lance crackers, filling vending machines and delivering to restaurants, he then moved to Bankers Dispatch where he picked up from curbside deposit boxes.
His next job was working in the shipping department of Mallinckrodt, but packing up radioactive medicines all week didn’t provide that fix for the road, so he worked weekends for Associate Couriers, who just happened to deliver those same critical medicines he spent all week prepping for shipment.
From there he moved to the big trucks, driving for ABF, and worked his way to the top of seniority while also taking on the role of union rep.
Randy had the reputation for never losing a dispute brought to him by the union workers.

After retirement, Randy volunteered at the Jefferson Barracks VA Medical Center, waking up early every weekday to open the doors to the gym and assist other veterans in any way possible, even going as far as driving them anywhere they needed. He would often supply the morning doughnuts and would organize luncheon outings for the veterans at local restaurants too.
Randy was also a monthly donor to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Tunnels for Towers, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Everyone who knew Randy knew how much he loved cars. From his very first car, he was always looking for something that caught his eye.
‘57 Chevys, ‘65 Chevelle SS 396, Porsche 911, Mercedes Benz, Mustangs, Corvettes, and even min-vans and Kias, Randy loved cars.
It wasn’t uncommon for Randy to leave the house on a Saturday in one car and come home in another, which is why Janet never got attached to any of them. He would even buy a car “because I wanted to buy one”.

Randy will always be remembered, either favorably or unfavorably, for his sense of humor. You either loved it or hated it, but rarely was there an in-between. He had a ton of quirky sayings that he seemed to enjoy no matter how often everyone else heard them.
“If it’s free, it’s for me. If I have to pay, you can go away”
“If it’s snowing, I’m not going”
And of course, “Are we having fun yet?”
His work ethic was typical of most people from his era, doing whatever it took to provide for his family even if it meant working when most people were off.
Randy was someone who would always put the needs of others before his own, which contributed to his success as a union rep. while at ABF and his popularity at the VA.
One of his closest friends, Chuck Dawson, suffered a stroke that left him partially incapacitated. But that didn’t stop Chuck and Kay from taking vacations with Randy and Janet, and Randy would make sure that on every trip they went, Chuck could participate in every aspect of it. That’s who he was.

Randy was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Leonard (survived by Betty) Martin and James (Georgia) Martin; survived by his wife Janet R. Boehm (nee Martin); son Steve Boehm, daughter Tammy Boehm; grandchildren Brad (Hannah), Ryan, and Jack; great-grandchildren Helena and Rochelle; brothers Leo (Rosemary), Tim (Janet) and Chris Boehm; and in-laws Harold (Debbie) Martin, Shirley (Bruce) Clark.

Services: Visitation at KUTIS SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd. on Sunday, December 10, from 3-7 p.m. Funeral Monday, December 11, at 10:30 a.m. Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Tunnels for Towers, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital appreciated.