PORTER, Ind. - Johanna Boehm, 85, Porter, died Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2003) at The Waters of Duneland Health Care Center, Chesterton.

She was born Sept. 21, 1917, in Porter, to Jacob C. and Ellen (Blink) Ton. On Feb. 4, 1939, in Porter, she married Raymond W. Boehm who died Jan. 28, 1995.

Survivors include one son, Walter (Deborah) Boehm, LaPorte; one daughter, Ellen R. Dickerson, Porter; one sister, Jeannette (Larry) DeKoker, Chesterton; special sister-in-law, "Frankie" (Richard) Collins, Chesterton; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Also preceding Mrs. Boehm in death were six brothers, Cornelius "Sonny", Lewis "Whitey", Walter "Ozzie", Bernard "Swede", Roland "Coonie" and Harold "Spider" Steve Ton; and four sisters, Kathryn Sieske, Nellie Marie DeLacey, Luella Betts, and Wanda Poparod.

Mrs. Boehm was a homemaker and a member of the Porter United Methodist Church. She was Sunday school superintendent for 25 years, a member of the Love Circle and also was the first president of the Porter United Methodist Women's Club.

She belonged to Daughters of America Lodge 70, Porter, and was the State of Indiana Counselor for Daughters of America in 1976 and 1984. Mrs. Boehm served for 17 years on the Porter Park Board. She was a long time member of the Porter election board and a supporter of the State Park Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball. She was the 2000 Citizen of the Year in the town of Porter. Mrs. Boehm was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and was a passionate collector of music boxes, with more than a hundred in her collection.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Porter United Methodist Church.The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, Chesterton. Burial will be in Chesterton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3-8pm Sunday and from 10 a.m. until the service Monday at the funeral home. The News-Dispatch (Michigan City, IN) February 7, 2003