Henry "Hank" Boedicker

On Saturday, April 25, 2026, Henry “Hank” Frank Boedicker of Paola, Kansas, passed away at Homestead Assisted Living in Paola. He was blessed with amazing people who helped him live gracefully over the last four years.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.” Hank’s “why” was to live, laugh, and love. He was very good at all three.

You may have heard one of his famous one-liners. When someone asked, “How are you doing, Hank?” he would reply, “Cold sober.” He would also say, “I am glad you got to see me!” Humor was in Hank Boedicker’s DNA.

Henry Frank Boedicker was born on June 9, 1937, to Roy Pete and Clara (Doerhoff) Boedicker. He was raised near St. Anthony, Missouri, not far from Big Tavern Creek. After his mother, Clara, passed away when he was young, his father did his best to care for five children with the help of family. Eventually, it became too much, and Hank, along with his younger brother Herman and sister Irene, moved to St. Vincent’s Orphanage in St. Louis.

Nuns ran St. Vincent’s, many of whom spoke German. The children attended Mass six days a week at 6:30 in the morning, and Mass was said in Latin. For children coming from rural Missouri farm life, the move was a major cultural shock. Through it all, the Boedicker children stuck together and made the best of their circumstances.

Hank graduated from William Cullen McBride High School in 1955. He then joined the Brothers of Mary and began pursuing higher education. He attended St. Louis University and later transferred to St. Mary’s College in San Antonio, Texas. He went on to teach at a Catholic school in St. Louis, where he taught English I, English II, and Religion. He later accepted an assignment to teach English in Winnipeg, Canada, where he taught students whose primary language was French.

After his father, Roy Pete Boedicker, passed away in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1964, Hank decided to leave the Brothers of Mary. He moved to Kansas to be near his uncle, Ilde Doerhoff, and took a job with the fire and safety department at Osawatomie State Hospital. It was there, in 1967, that he crossed paths with Deana (Birchard) Baldwin.

Hank and Deana were married on April 11, 1969. They made their home in Osawatomie, Kansas, where they raised Deana’s two sons, Mike and Mark Baldwin, and later welcomed two more sons, Brian and Doug.

In 1974, Hank joined the Missouri Pacific Railroad, where he became friends with co-workers and hobos alike. Hank was quick-witted and enjoyed making people laugh and smile.

In 1980, Hank and Deana went to a garage sale to buy a roll-away bed and ended up buying the home. They lived in Hillsdale and later moved to Paola.

In 1995, Hank survived a train crash near Parsons, Kansas. He injured his back, leading to his early retirement. That time became precious, as Hank and Deana traveled to both coasts and enjoyed spending time in Canada. On their 30th anniversary, they took a Caribbean cruise. Hank and Deana enjoyed living life together and were married for 52 years.

Hank was preceded in death by his parents; his infant sister, Dorothy; his brother, Herman Boedicker; his sisters Rosemary Boedicker and Irene Myers; his son, Mike Baldwin; and the love of his life, Deana (Birchard) Boedicker.

He is survived by his sister, Clara, and her husband, Lenny Heimericks, of Sacramento, California; his sons, Mark and Jeanie Baldwin, Brian and Andria Boedicker, and Doug and Serenity Boedicker. He was extremely proud of his grandchildren, Max and Garrett Baldwin, and Blake and Lindsey Boedicker.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Paola, Kansas. A private family burial will follow at Osawatomie Cemetery.