Charles E. Boomhower

Charles Ezra Boomhower (January 15, 1947 - November 30, 2020). Son of Cecelia (Prespare) and Everett Boomhower, Charles was named after each of his grandfathers. He grew up with his parents, brother, and two sisters in the home in Cropseyville, NY that his father and grandfather created in a renovated church after selling their family farm. As a boy he became active in the Boy Scouts, eventually working in the kitchen at the local Boy Scout camp during summers and earning the Eagle Scout rank shortly before turning eighteen. He graduated from Tamarac High School and, with the support of a scholarship for Eagle Scouts, attended Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska. After becoming the first in his family to attend college, he followed a calling to the ministry with the Lutheran Church in America, attending Hamma School of Theology at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. There he met Rosemary Fellers, who became his wife of 49 years. They moved to Valatie, New York in 1973, where Chuck was called to pastor St. Luke Lutheran Church and Emanuel Lutheran Church in Stuyvesant Falls, New York. While living in Valatie, Chuck and Rosemary welcomed their eldest son, Matthew, in 1973 and later welcomed their second son, Daniel, into their family in 1976. In 1977 Chuck began his time as pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Holgate, Ohio; the following year their youngest son, John, joined their family. In 1985, Chuck continued his ministry at Grace Lutheran Church in Steubenville, Ohio. Toward the end of his tenure in Steubenville, Chuck also served as the interim pastor of St. John Lutheran Church and helped lay the foundation for the integration of the two ELCA churches in the community, expanding the ministry of Grace outward and enabling the congregations to continue to serve their faith and community together. In 1995, Chuck began his ministry as co-pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Greenville, Ohio and would eventually help shepherd that congregation toward the adoption of a new leadership model following his resignation. From 2007 to 2010 Chuck was called to serve First English Lutheran Church in Ashville, Ohio, after which he guided the ministry of the Wabash Valley Cooperative Ministry (St. Paul Lutheran in Coldwater, Ohio; Trinity Lutheran in Ft. Recovery, Ohio; St. James Lutheran in Salamonia, Indiana; and St. Paul Lutheran in Rockford, Ohio). He retired from active ministry in 2013. In retirement, he served as interim pastor and supply preacher at a number of churches in the Northwest Ohio Synod of the ELCA. Chuck served in a number of adult leadership roles in Boy Scout troops and districts; among other honors, his service was recognized with the Silver Beaver Award from the Chief Logan District of the Ohio River Valley Council. Each of his three sons also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Chuck actively volunteered and served on the boards of a number community organizations throughout his career and in retirement. He cherished his close friendships with clergy from a diversity of faith traditions. His sons, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters remained the source of his greatest pride and joy. Predeceased by his father, mother, and brother Gene, he is survived by his wife Rosemary; his sons and their families: Matthew and Stephanie (San Diego, CA), Daniel and Keely and their daughters Eleanor and Greta (Washington, DC), John and Meghan and their daughters Skylar and Maya (Grosse Pointe Farms, MI); his sisters Joyce (and Robert) Duncan and June Boomhower; his sister-in-law Ardith (Ardie) Boomhower; his brother-in-law John Fellers; his sister-in-law Ilaria Fellers; numerous nieces and nephews; and countless congregants whom he baptized, confirmed, married, and pastored through highs and lows over a half century. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Seminary Scholarship Fund at St. John Lutheran Church, Celina, Ohio or to a charity of your choice. A memorial service will be live streamed on Monday, Dec. 14 at 6:30pm and available to view at the Purple Door Church Celina channel on YouTube.