John Boggs

John Andrew Boggs was born July 2, 1935 at home in Moatsville, WV to William and Mabel (Snyder) Boggs and died July 15, 2026 at the VA Nursing Home in St. Cloud, MN at the age of 91.

John and his wife Ruth (Smith) met at the NCO Club at Fort Benning, GA; they were married 69 years. John served his country in the US Army in Korea, Germany, France and Viet Nam for 27 ½ years. He then worked for 16 years with the physically and mentally handicapped at the Mille Lacs County Development Achievement Center (DAC) in Milaca. He established Stepping Stones, the first group home in Milaca. John was a very generous person, willing to help anyone.

John joined the National Guard at age of 14 ½, after not being promoted to the 11th grade due to hours owed to detention hall for absent school days. He earned his GED, BS, Masters, EDS Degrees and all except the dissertation to receive his PHD while serving in the Army and raising a family. John earned the Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Field Medical Badge, the US Army and Vietnamese Parachutist Badges, and a number of other service medals. John rose to the rank of Major. He was a member of Hansen-Hayes American Legion Post #178 in Milaca, Siemers-Hakes VFW Post #10794 in Milaca, VUMS Veterans of Underage Military Service and the Milaca Area Historical Society.

John and Ruth traveled to over 100 countries and all 7 continents. John fell down the stairs at an antique store in Princeton in January 2021. Ruth was his care giver until he entered the VA Nursing Home in St. Cloud on April 9, 2024.

When John was a young boy in West Virginia, a man who lived down the dirt road from them owned a Model A. For the rest of his life, John thought if I ever get enough money, I’m going to buy a Model A. Fast forward to 2007 – 2015, he owned 10.

John was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William, Merit and Max and grandson, Christian Boggs.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth; brothers, James (Bonnie) Boggs, of Hagerstown, MD and Joe Boggs of Alum Bridge, WV; children, Michael (Cynthia) Boggs of Sharpsburg, GA, Stephen Boggs of Bloomington, MN, Margaret (Michael) Marudas of Bloomington, MN and Mark (Jean) Boggs of Milaca; grandchildren, Jessica (Zachary) Moses of Cleveland, OH, Alyssa (Leif) Peterson of Minneapolis, Michaela Barber of GA, Meghan (Shawn) Wilson of LaCrosse, WI, Elizabeth Boggs of GA, Aaron (Lyndsey) Boggs of Circle Pines, MN and Matthew Boggs of GA; great-grandchildren, Harriet and Cullum Peterson, Gunner Lennert, Dawson and Betsy Ann Barber, Marin Wilson, Weston Boggs and Rylee Boggs; also by many nieces and nephews and special friends, Michael and Deloris Katke.

The family would like to thank the staff at the St. Cloud VA Nursing Home for their world class care.

John requested that there be no ceremony. He was cremated and will be buried at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Little Falls at a later date.

A celebration of John’s life will be held Sunday, September 6, 2026 from 1 – 5 PM at their home, 340 2nd Avenue Northeast, Milaca, MN 56353.