Douglas Ray Boysen

Douglas Ray Boysen, 84, of Gonzales, passed away Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. He was born Feb. 21, 1931 in the Cheapside community of Gonzales County, the son of Richard Charles and Janie Marie Klohs Boysen.  He attended the Rupert school and graduated from Gonzales High School. 

After graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for four years being stationed in Germany and at several bases in the U.S. He married Joyce Nell Mauer on March 11, 1956, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Cuero. They lived in Cuero for a time and Doug worked with his brother at their grocery store in Cuero. 

Doug and Joyce moved to Gonzales in 1959 and bought the Peterek’s Grocery and owned and operated the Boysen Food Market for the next 34 years until their retirement in 1993. He was an intelligent person, sharp businessman and was known as the best butcher in town, renowned for his sausage and jerky. 

He enjoyed spending time on the lake with his kids, reading, gardening, watching his favorite Atlanta Braves baseball team and playing dominoes. He was known to stop by Tony’s Domino Hall to play on his way home from the store. He was a hard worker and after retirement he kept a spotless yard.

He will always be remembered as a tolerant, gentle and caring man. He loved to laugh and was a great storyteller.  Most of all he was a devoted and loving husband, daddy and Poppa. 

Ray is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joyce Boysen of Gonzales; daughters, Cathy McIver and husband Gordon of Pagosa Springs, Colo., Jane Blundell and husband Garlan of Texas City, Barbara Kuck and husband Michael of Luling and Sharon Wigley and husband Tim of San Marcos; grandchildren, Garrett, Jordan and Allison Blundell, Joshua Floyd, Derek and Tanner Wigley, Allen and Skyler McIver, and Katelyn and Lindsey Kuck; and great-grandchildren, Caris, Conley and Blythe Blundell. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Carey Mae Wolf and Mary Beth Ducote and husband David as well as numerous loving nieces and nephews and special caregiver, Debbie Griffin. He was preceded by his parents; sisters Birdie Langhoff, Ruby Braune and Virgie Baker and brother Edmund Boysen. 

Visitation was held Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services were 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the First Lutheran Church with Pastor Ildiko Rigney officiating. Interment followed at the Hermann Sons Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, the Alzheimers Foundation or charity of choice. 

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home, 906 St. Paul Street, Gonzales, 830-672-3232.