Darrel Boatz

Darrel Lane Boatz, 58, of Terre Haute, IN, formerly of Decatur, IL, passed away Saturday, July 2,2016 at home in his sleep.Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 9,2016 at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home in Decatur, IL, with visitation one hour prior to service time at the funeral home. He will be buried at Mt Gilead Cemetery, Decatur.Memorials may be made to Boy Scouts of America.Darrel was born April 19, 1958, in Decatur, IL, the son of Lowell and Joan (Sims) Boatz. He grew up in Decatur, IL and was a member of the Church of the Brethren. Darrel graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1976, and attended Eastern Illinois University. He married Donna Sheryl Johnson in 1981.Darrel played the trombone and was in the jazz and marching bands in high school. He played football, was in the honors society, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He loved comic books, especially Batman and Superman. He was passionate about politics and history and he loved cooking and creating his own recipes. He was great with kids and was looking forward to grandchildren.Over his life, Darrel worked in material distribution at hospitals in Macomb, IL and Terre Haute, Indiana, at a comic book store in Charleston, IL, and as an accounting clerk at Sound Care Audiology in Terre Haute, IN. He did freelancing, wrote and published science fiction.He is survived by his children, Jennifer C. Boatz of Pittsburgh, PA and David N. Boatz of Muncie, IN; mother Joan E. Boatz of Springfield, IL; step-mother Pauline Boatz of Homosassa, FL; former wife Donna Sheryl Boatz of Terre Haute, IN; father-in-law Max Johnson of Decatur, IL; brother Alan B. (Sara) Boatz of Colorado Springs, CO; sisters Denise C. (Andrew) Walters of Decatur, IL and Julie A. (Jason) Frydenger of Cerro Gordo, IL; nephew Austin, and nieces Shari, Sarah, Ellie, Madison, Caroline, and Claire; aunts and uncles Betsy Boatz, Sharon Connour, Phyllis Stewart, Nancy (Ralph) Wetzel, Darrel (Ruth) Sims, and Jack (Nancy) Sims.He was preceded in death by his father, Lowell F. Boatz; uncles Noel R. Boatz and Eldon Boatz; aunt Shirley Boatz.; and mother-in-law Shirley Johnson.Condolences may be left to the family in care of Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home at brintlingerandearl.com Obituary written by family. "
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