Larry L. Boardman

GRAND ISLAND – Larry L. Boardman, 83, of Grand Island, Nebraska, passed away at home on Monday, August 4, 2025.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 8, 2025, at Palmer-Santin Funeral Home in Fullerton with Pastor Sherman Sack officiating. Burial will follow at Fullerton Cemetery in Fullerton with Fullerton American Legion Post 151 and United States Navy Honor Guard. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Palmer-Santin Funeral Home is serving the family.
Larry was born on October 8, 1941, in rural Fullerton, Nebraska, to Leslie and Opal (Stern) Boardman and was raised on a farm near Fullerton. He graduated from Fullerton High School in 1959 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy that fall. He served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Bennington for three years, visiting ports in Hawaii, the Philippines, Japan, China, and Guam on three different cruises during his service. He was honorably discharged in August 1962.
On August 24, 1963, Larry married his high school sweetheart, Gay Barth, at the United Methodist Church in St. Paul, Nebraska. They made their home in Fullerton, where they farmed and operated a dairy for several years before Larry pursued a career as a commercial pilot. Over the years, they lived in Central City, Hastings, Superior, and Henderson. Larry also worked as a flight instructor and charter pilot and was named Nebraska's "Flight Instructor of the Year" in 1975. He was also an aerial sprayer and remained active in both state and national aviation organizations, receiving the honor of Nebraska's "Airman of the Year" in 1991. Larry and Gay returned to Fullerton in 1988 and moved to Grand Island in 2016, where they became members of Third City Christian Church.
Larry had many passions, including farming, flying, traveling, and researching family history. Above all, he cherished time spent with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Gay, of Grand Island; a son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Mary Boardman of Henderson; daughter and son-in-law, Yvonne and Dustin Van Wechel of Colorado Springs, CO; four grandchildren: Andrea (Jesse) Boardman-Fisher of Cedar Grove, NC, Samantha (Kole) Pederson of Lincoln, NE, Megan (Christian) Clear of Fort Sill, OK, and Brandon Boardman of Henderson, NE; two great-grandchildren: Jet Pederson and Maddox Clear; sister, Janene Bourn of Broomfield, CO; and brother-in-law, Jerry Sharman of Fullerton, NE.
He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Becky Lind of Manhattan, KS; and brothers-in-law and spouses, Russell and Lorraine Barth of Doniphan, NE and Lewis and Marliss Barth of Dannebrog, NE; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Robert "Bob" Boardman; sister, Gerri Sharman; and brother-in-law, Jim Bourn; as well as parents-in-law, Clyde and Nawdean (Day) Barth.
Memorials are suggested to Nance County Veteran's Museum and Fullerton Cemetery.