Juanita Boesker

Juanita Hart Boesker passed into eternal life on January 10, 2022 at the age of 90 years, 11 months and 24 days, ending a life fully lived. Juanita lived in at least 11 countries, met with foreign dignitaries, including former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Britain and tried to help people wherever she went. Whether it was getting food to malnourished people, money to a young cousin she'd heard had car trouble, or being in water up to her neck to help a neighbor boy in Australia seine for shrimp to eat, she always tried to help people. Juanita was born to Cleo and Florence (Strachan) Hart on January 16, 1931 at Barnard, South Dakota. The family moved to Canton, Kansas when Juanita was five years old and she graduated from Grade School and High School in Canton. Juanita married Cliff McCoy in 1953. Cliff was a tester for Haliburton in 1957 when they chose to go foreign. The first assignment was Germany from Frankfurt to Munich, followed by travels to and adventures in Columbia, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Norway, The United Arab Emirates, Iran, Somalia and Scotland - usually living in a country from six weeks to four years before moving to the next country. Juanita and Cliff later divorced. One of the many highlights of Juanita's life was to be part of the first group of whites to meet with the Montelone tribe of indigenous people in Columbia. She went with a doctor, a National Geographic reporter and other local reporters. She later initiated and oversaw distribution of foods needed for the tribe. Juanita was also a very successful dog breeder and produced five champion long coated Chihuahuas. After returning to the United States, Juanita owned and operated a truck weigh scale and restaurant on the Harvey Canal in New Orleans. She had to get up at all hours of the night to weigh trucks and during the day she had to weigh trucks and run the restaurant. She made a success of both parts. After retiring she returned to Canton and became the director of the Canton Senior Citizen Center. During her years as director she brought about changes that improved it and breathed new life into it. In Canton she also became reacquainted with her old high school sweetheart Leland Boesker and they were married in 2009. They celebrated 10 years of marriage prior to his death in 2020. Juanita was also predeceased by her only sibling, her brother Keith in 1975. Juanita is survived by her cousins, Doris Evans, Kathleen (Jim) Fischer, Paula (Jack) Taylor, Julie (Vince) Jantz, Sharon (Gary) Starcher and further descendants who will all miss Juanita's sharp mind and ability to summarize things concisely. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 14, 2022 at the Canton Christian Church. Burial will be in the Spring Valley Cemetery Meridian Township south of Canton. Memorials have been established with the church, the Canton Senior Center or the charity of choice, in care of Olson's Mortuary, Canton.

Juanita Boesker

January 16, 1931 - January 10, 2022