"Boock Dies Mowing Lawn" May 31, 1961

"Boock Dies Mowing Lawn"

How fitting that our Greatuncle, Albert Peter Boock, known as "A.P.", should have died at age 83, while mowing his lawn on an 89 degree afternoon in New Ulm, the day after attending the Memorial Day parade and the services at the New Ulm cemeteries and visiting friends that same evening.

New Ulm newspapers featured articles about A.P. Boock, one of New Ulm's favorite citizens, including: the New Ulm Journal ("Boock Dies Mowing Lawn") and the New Ulm Review ("Death Stills A. P. Boock, Last Local Survivor of Spanish-American War").

Our family has always been fascinated by this extraordinary, renaissance man, which the New Ulm Journal Editorial, 1 June 1961, described as " Boock was old soldier, musician, civil servant, city promoter, baseball player, and all-around citizen. His quiet enthusiasm will be missed." A. P. will have been born 130 years ago this August 27 to Wilhelmine Plath and Christian Frederick Boock, German immigrants.

One might add that A. P. was an amiable character: gregarious, drawn to service, thrifty, clever and entertaining, a penchant for story-telling and humor, consumate letter-writer, traveler, as well as thoughtful and energetic devotee to civic projects and church activities. [Photo right: Emil Buenger, Paul Hachbarth, A.P., ?, and brother Arthur goofing off for the camera.]


This picture was taken by Journal photographer, Bob William, of A. P. Boock (at left) walking away from the Memorial Day program at the New Ulm cemetery. He was helping another old soldier, believed to be William Joern of Nicollet. The following article is reprinted from the NEW ULM JOURNAL, Vol. 63, 1 June 1961, with photographs from the family collection scattered throughout:

A.P. Boock, one of New Ulm's most prominent senior citizens, died Wednesday while mowing the lawn at his home, 318 N. Minnesota.

A heart attack took the life of the 83-year-old former city councilman, who had not been ill. Bock attended the Memorial Day parade Tuesday and the services at the New Ulm cemeteries. He went calling that night on friends.

Boock's sister-in-law, Miss Bertha Ruemke, said she begged him to take it easy during the hot afternoon Wednesday--89 degrees--and not mow the lawn. But he told her that he would only cut "a couple of rows."

"I know what I can do," she quoted him as saying. Miss Ruemke, who lives at the same address, said she worked upstairs for awhile, then came down and noticed that the sound of the power mower had stopped.

Lying on Grass

She said she looked out and saw him lying on the grass beside the mower. He had apparently been able to turn it off before collapsing.

"I called the doctor, but I knew he was gone," Miss Ruemke said. "Just yesterday he helped take charge of everthing in the parade and everything went fine."

Boock was seen by many in Tuesday's Memorial Day parade. He was on the committee which arranged the details of the observance.

"He was just as chipper as ever today." Miss Ruemke said. "I know he could have lived longer." [Miss Ruemke is Bertha Ruemke, the younger sister of A. P.'s wife, Emma.]

A globe-trotter in recent years, Boock was planning his next trip--this time to Russia. That was to come after he presided at the state convention of the Spanish american War Veterans this summer.

Boock is a past state commander of the Spanish vets. He dropped out of the University of Minnesota to join the army in 1898, and has been active in the Spaniosh vets ever since.

Joined Eagle Mill

When he left the service, Boock joined the Eagle Roller Mill Company at New Ulm, then the largest industry here, and severed in many jobs before retiring in 1947. he was an accountant, manager of the traffic department and district sales manager.

A tall, thin man, Boock was well known for his activity in civic affairs. He served 16 years on the City Council, five of them as president. he lost a close race with Alfred (Paddy) Baltrusch the last time he ran, and hung up his political hat.

When New Ulm in 1953 suffered an economic blow by the closing of the wheat flour mill, which eagle had sold to International Milling Company, Boock invested in New Ulm Industries Inc. He was a director at the time of his death.

One of his most recent projects was helping to build highland Manor on N. Highland. He was a director of the New Ulm Memorial Foundation which put up the $250,000 home. He also was a director of the Union Hospital, the Brown County Historical Society, and was active in Junior pioneers.

Had Musical Career

Boock also had an illustrious music career. He joined the Concordia band when only 9, and played in the University of Minnesota band when a student. [Photo below: Anton Gag photo of the New Ulm Concordia Band. A. P. is located in the top row fourth from right, next to the pillar. He played the cornet.]

He was principal musician of the 12th Minnesota regiment Band, of the Second Regiment Minnesota National Guard Band, director of the Concordia Band and the Pioneer band, of New Ulm, a warrant officer in the 205th Infantry band and a onetime director of the Gibbon Municipal Band. [Photo left: Arthur Boock drove Olivia Raabe, Gertrude Boock, and brothers Lester and John Raabe to Lake City to visit Norbert Boock, Willard Raabe, and Uncle A. P. Boock, who were in the band, camping with the Infantry Band. L-R: Gertrude, Arthur, A.P., Lester, Olivia, John, Willard, and Norbert.]

In recent years, Boock wore Seven League boots. He had been around the world, toured south America, Canada, Europe, Mexico, the South pacific and had the Soviet Union on his intinerary had he lived. All of this travel came after he was 78 and too New Ulm Journal-KNUJ-trip to Europe in 1956.

Son of Blacksmith

Albert P. Boock was born in New Ulm, Aug. 29, 1877, to Christian Frederick Boock and the former Wilhelmina Plath. his father was a blacksmith. He was a graduate of New Ulm High School. [Photo left: Wilhelmine nee Plath and Christian Frederick Boock wedding portrait.]

Boock married the former Emma Ruemke on June 26, 1903, in St. Paul's Lutheran Church of New Ulm. They clebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1953. She died in November of 1954.




Surviving are the brothers and sisters, Mrs. William ruemke, Los Angeles; Mrs. Louis Broeker and Mrs. Herman Hardt, both Milwaukee; Arthur, Spencer, Wis., and Oscar, Waterloo Wis.