Arlene Boyer

Wednesday, October 12, 2022 10:54 pm

Arlene Boyer, age 89, of St. Lucas, IA, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas with Rev. Nick Radloff presiding.  Burial will be in the church cemetery. There is no visitation prior to the service.

Arlene was born on the family homestead east of St. Lucas on Sept. 2, 1933, to Adam and Margaret (Ott) Boyer. She was the eighth of nine children born in this family. Arlene attended St. Luke’s Catholic School, and after 9th grade, she told Sister Lenora she did not need to continue. Arlene worked for many area families as a nanny and was affectionately known by the children as Leney. Arlene also worked for individuals by helping with household chores. She also spent many hours babysitting her nieces and nephews. Arlene was a caretaker for her father and her mother. Arlene started working in the hot lunch program for St. John’s – St. Luke’s Catholic School in the 1980s. She was known for her homemade bread and for generously feeding the students.In 1983 she was hired as a housekeeper for Father Florian Schmidt when he was pastor at St. Luke’s in St. Lucas. During this time, she also helped update the school’s chapel altars. In the fall of 1993, she moved to Dubuque to continue as a housekeeper for Father Schmidt and stayed with him during his different assignments in Worthington and Dubuque. When Father Schmidt’s health declined, she took on the role of caregiver until his passing in 2015.

In the fall of 2019, Arlene returned “home” to St. Lucas to be near her baby brother, Denny. Arlene and Denny had a special connection as the two youngest children of their family. They would fondly reminisce of their childhood playing cops and robbers, having a good time with their dogs, and exploring the timber and creek of their homestead. In her later years, Arlene enjoyed family time and her dog, Baxter. In her earlier years, she loved tending to her flower gardens, baking, and fix it projects. Arlene never had a driver’s license; instead relied on walking, her moped for a short stint, and hitching a ride

.Arlene is survived by her baby brother, Denny Boyer of St. Lucas, sister-in-law Connie Woodson of Elma, and many nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, Adam and Margaret Boyer; Sister Margaret Boyer FSPA. Leonard Boyer, Ray and Evelyn Boyer, Andrew Boyer, Larry Boyer, Eugene Boyer, Flavia and Norbert Lechtenberg; and sister-in-law, Maxine Boyer; and nephews Duane Boyer and Michael and Gary Lechtenberg.