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Harry J. Boyum
1915 – 2003
Boyum's Grocery
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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 July 2, 1949, he married the former Alice Baurichter at St. Henry Catholic Church. She preceded him in death on March 15, 2001.
Harry
and his wife Alice ran the former Boyum Grocery on
North Second Street for many years.
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
Cross
Reference Info:
Hinzmann buys
the Sixth ward neighborhood grocery store at 902 North Second Street
Watertown
Daily Times, 02 25 1943
Hinzmann Barber Shop to close its doors Saturday
Edward
F. Hinzmann, whose barber shop on North Second Street
has been under his management for the past 22 years, will close his place of
business Saturday night, bringing to an end his long career as a barber
here. He announced plans to close his
shop some time ago and today he stated that Saturday will be his final day at
the shop and that it will close that night.
Mr. Hinzmann took occasion to thank his patrons and the public
for their generous support throughout the years he has been in business hero.
He has
taken over the Sixth ward neighborhood grocery store at 902 North Second Street
which was operated for many years by Joseph Fischer and later by Mrs. Joseph
Fischer and will operate that.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin