CARL BOYLAN`

1950 - 2021

Carl W. Boylan 1950 - 2021 Carl William Boylan, 70, of rural Shenandoah, Iowa, passed away peacefully at home on April 17, 2021, following a lengthy illness. Carl was born to Don H and Dorothy (Fischer) Boylan on September 12, 1950, at Hand Hospital in Shenandoah. He was raised on the family farm east of Shenandoah. Carl attended Shenandoah schools, participating in basketball, football and the Essex Whirlwinds 4-H club, graduating with the class of 1968. He attended Iowa State University in Ames and was a member of the FarmHouse Fraternity. During college, he was a Cyclone Aide student ambassador and worked summers at Living History Farm near Des Moines as a tour guide demonstrating rope making. After graduating in 1972 with a bachelor's degree, Carl spent a year backpacking through Europe, teaching farm equipment operation on a kibbutz and working other temporary jobs to finance his adventure. Carl returned to Shenandoah to work alongside his dad at Boylan Farms. They were members of the Shenandoah Farmers Coop. The Boylan family (Don, Dorothy, Betty, Donna and Carl) received recognition for operating a Century Farm at the 1981 Iowa State Fair. The farm had been established on September 25, 1881. On September 1, 1984, Carl and Margie Keller were married at the Shenandoah United Methodist Church after meeting at Iowa State. They made their home at a second homestead on the Boylan Farm. In addition to being a registered nurse, Margie assisted Carl with the farm operation. Land conservation was very important to Carl, and he practiced terracing, no-till farming, and allowing all field grasses to grow through spring and summer seasons so that wild birds, especially pheasants, could nest and raise their young. In 1989, Don, Dorothy, Carl and Margie were selected to represent Page County in the family-operated farm division of the Iowa Soil Conservation program. Carl took great pride in meticulously caring for all of his John Deere equipment. Carl and Margie loved to travel and spend part of the winter at places that were warm and sunny. Hawaii was their favorite place to vacation. They enjoyed touring together and even visited the Mini-Cooper automobile factory during a trip to England. When visitors came to southwest Iowa, Carl was a gracious host and would always ask, "What can I get for you?" The family extends immense gratitude to all the excellent caregivers and nurses from Seniors Helping Seniors and St. Croix Hospice, who took care of Carl in his home on his cherished land until the time of his death. Thank you to Gene Johnson and Al Ruhde for taking such wonderful care of the homesteads. Carl was preceded in death by his wife Margie, parents Don and Dorothy Boylan, sister Donna Stewart, brother-in-law H. Jon Miller and beloved canine companion, Spencer. He is survived by his sister Betty Miller; his brothers-in-law Rev. Ron Stewart, and Jed Keller and wife Patti; his aunt Delores Fischer; his nephews and nieces Chris Miller and wife Angela Schmidt, Anne Hartley and husband Matt, Scott Stewart and wife Jennifer, and Jennie Stillwell and husband Kevin; his great-nieces-and-nephews Christina Hartley, Eli Hartley, Emma Stillwell and Logan Stillwell; as well as many cousins and dear friends, including Lyle Palmer. A celebration of life will be held in Shenandoah on June 19, 2021. Details will be announced as plans are confirmed. Memorial donations in memory of Carl may be directed to the Wabash Trace Nature Trail, PO Box 581 Shenandoah, Iowa, 51601, or www.wabashtrace.org One mile of this trail goes through the Boylan Farm. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home site, www.hackettlivingston.com. Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home was honored to have been entrusted with the arrangements.