Jeffery L. Boyes
Jeffery L. Boyes, 73, was ushered from this life to the next in Jesus Christ after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Rockwell Community Care Center, Rockwell.
A viewing will be held on Friday, May 23, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake.
A memorial service for Jeffery will be head on Friday, Aug. 15, at the Evangelical Free Church, Clear Lake, with Pastor Chris McComic officiating. Visitation will also be held prior to the service. A private family inurnment will take place at Clinton-Garfield Cemetery in Rolfe.
Memorials may be directed to the charitable organization of choice or the family suggests Rockwell Community Nursing Home (nonprofit); MROM (Rock Steady Boxing in Mason City); or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Jeff was born on July 25, 1951, in Dubuque, to Glenn and Alice (Henker) Boyes. The family later moved to Clayton, where Jeff grew up along the Mississippi River. He often shared fond memories of his outdoor adventures there.
He graduated from Garnavillo High School in 1969 and earned a bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife biology from Iowa State University in 1975. While at ISU, Jeff met the love of his life, Martha Bones, and the two were united in marriage on Aug. 20, 1977, at Calvary United Methodist Church in Ames.
Jeff and Martha lived in Elkader for 10 years, where Jeff served on the fire department for seven of those years. During that time, he worked for the Clayton County Conservation Board from 1976 to 1987. He then returned to college, earning a second bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa, enabling him to teach junior and senior high school science. In 1998, Jeff earned his master’s degree in education from the University of Iowa.
He began his teaching career at Mid-Prairie High School in Wellman from 1989 to 1994. In 1994, he joined Clear Lake High School in Clear Lake, where he taught chemistry and later physics, until his retirement in 2015. One of his greatest joys was hearing from former students who found college chemistry easier because of his teaching.
Jeff will be remembered for his practical faith in Jesus Christ, his even temperament and his dry wit. He had a gift for explaining complex concepts—often sketching diagrams on scrap paper or napkins. He was known for pointing out inconsistencies in movies or TV shows, especially those involving electricity, fire or chemicals. A lover of the outdoors, Jeff enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking, particularly before his teaching years.
Jeff is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Martha; sons, Nick (Naomi) of Nagoya, Japan; and Seth (Janet) of Decorah; two granddaughters, Gwendolyn and Lena; his sister, Lisa Boyes; brother-in-law, Kris Bierbaum; sisters-in-law, Beth Randolph, Vara Groot, Barb Chapman and Linda (Mike) Sherman; along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alice and Glenn Boyes; his sister, Linda Bierbaum; mother- and father-in-law, Herbert and Maribeth Bones; and brother-in-law, David Bones.
