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JOHN O. BOHMER Promotor and Booster; written by David Bohmer: When I volunteered to write a story about John for this story, I hadn’t stopped to realize how many things he has done and been involved with over the past year. Any mention of John’s activities automatically includes Joyce Bohmer, his wife and partner. They are like a second set of parents to me. Their generosity to me has been amazing and I can’t thank them enough. John’s mother died when he was an infant and our grandparents raised him to maturity until he got a job and was married.
After working on the railroad and serving in the army, he returned to Brooten and went to work in the family bank. He immediately became active in the community. He became Boy Scout Master and he also became a charter member of the Brooten Lions Club, officer of the Brooten Commercial Club, a member of the American Legion, a director of the Stearns county Historical Society, and helped organize Three Hallinglags, Community parades and celebrations, and local flying clubs.
They have been very generous in donating time and money to their local church and charitable organization. They donated $25,000 cash from the sale of their book “Brooten My Hometown” to pay expenses for the Brooten Centennial and $100,000 to BBE for grade school improvement Also, John and Nona donated their beautiful stone home to their Lutheran church for a parsonage.
In addition to this he has raised thousands of dollars and worked with government agencies to accomplish several projects including two new airports, water, sewer, sidewalk and hard surfaced streets, development of irrigation in Bonanza Valley and raised money for development of Brutanza Snowmobile Manufacturing Company, and the Lakeside Freezing plant.
John moved back to Brooten to be active in local organizations and to work in the family bank. After 12 years, John Bohmer (grandfather), thought John had acquired enough experience and promoted him to President while he himself retired after being president for 60 years. A National Record.
During this period, rural Minnesota went through some very difficult times. John was able to keep the bank sound. He was very active in promoting and starting irrigation in the area as director and chairman of the Bonanza Valley Irrigators Association for 8 years during its development. He also was a founder, President and director of the Irrigators Ass’n of Minnesota.
John and Joyce started the “Boondocks” Bowling Alley and restaurant, the “John O’s Dinner Theatre”, promoted development of the airport, purchased the creamery building so It could be converted into a medical clinic, and was active in promoting to some extent most of the new businesses that have come into town. Grass does not grow under John’s feet. As an active car collector, he has established the best Auto Museum in the Upper Midwest.
Writing has been another non-business interest. John and Joyce have authored nine books about the history of Brooten. He also produced several videos, and since 1951 has produced a weekly column in the Bonanza Valley Voice called “Bank Notes”. He has a talent for writing and people enjoy all that he publishes.
John learned to fly when he got out of the army, and got local people interested as well. He worked with Minnesota Department of Aeronautics to have an airport built in Brooten, and has since logged about 6,000 hour’s flight time in the air. Twenty years later he had a new and larger airport built and it was named “John O Bohmer Field”. The original airport land was converted into the Brooten Industrial Development Area. Right Dave?
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