GRAND RAPIDS —Don Boese was a master at connecting the past to the present.
His history books and courses at the former Itasca Community College, like War and Propaganda, were an extraordinary example of how the past can repeat itself. He shared many of those stories with KAXE listeners with his extensive contributions to the station's airwaves over the years.
Don died Monday, March 25, at the age of 88. Scott Hall, retired KAXE News and Public Affairs Director, joined the KAXE Morning Show to remember Don.
Scott recalled first hearing Don on KAXE when he worked at a woodworking shop in Hackensack in 1976.
"We would shut down all the machines and listen to Don's half-hour program on KAXE on war and propaganda, which basically was European and WWII history," Scott said.
Scott added that had no idea at the time that he would meet Don just four years later and eventually partner with him to bring the past of the region to listeners. From the history of Blandin Paper Co. to John C. Greenway’s story, Don and Scott put together over 100 segments.
“Don was a rigorous historian. He had the highest standards,” Scott said, describing Don’s research process of local archives, original documents and interviews with local residents.
Don's son Alexander Boese wrote in an email that his father's strong interest in history remained through the end of his life.
“In the nursing home, on the afternoon before he died, he was watching a TV documentary that included footage of Hitler returning to Germany triumphant after the invasion of Paris, and analyzing the techniques used by the Nazi filmmakers, continuing his life’s work to the final hours," Alexander wrote.
KAXE is grateful for Don's contributions over the years. Listen to the conversation above and check out the Papermakers history series here.
Alexander shared with KAXE the obituary Don wrote for himself, before he died. We've shared it here.
Donald L. Boese, November 19, 1935 – March 25, 2024
Don was born in St. Paul to Alvin and Irene Boese; Don is survived by his children, Stephen (Jennett), Christine (Jen), Peter (G’Ann), Jonathan (Kerry), and Alexander, nine grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and his sister Heather.
Don’s family moved to White Bear Lake in 1941 and he later thought of Birchwood, bordering on the south shore of the lake, as having been an ideal place to grow up. After graduating from White Bear High School, Don attended the University of Minnesota from 1953-1962 earning degrees in anthropology and history. He was assistant archeologist for the 1957-58 Fort Snelling Excavation.
Don taught at Mankato State College for eight years and then at Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids for 30 years where he taught ancient and European history, physical anthropology, humanities and film courses. Don was on the curriculum committee and director of the Honors Program and the Symposium series. He led many student expeditions to Chicago and Winnipeg.
Don was active in civic affairs serving as councilman and mayor in the Iron Range town of Bovey, MN, he was also on the library board and particularly relished his 38 years as chair and co-chair of the Bovey Farmers’ Day Association which directed the town’s long-lived Labor Day annual celebration. He also served as a director on the Greenway school board.
Don found a largely untold rich history in both the iron mining and paper making industries of Itasca County and wrote eight books including John C. Greenway and the Opening of the Western Mesabi and Papermakers: the Blandin Paper Company and Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He wrote a local history column for the Scenic Range News/Scenic Range News Forum for 45 years. He was a volunteer with KAXE Community Radio, serving on the board of directors and served on air as a classical music programmer as well as broadcasting history programs. One of his last writings was an essay accepted for publication in the book Voices of Minnesota Atheists.
Hobbies were important to Don; he was a life-long philatelist specializing in German Third Reich stamps and in the classic Cape of Good Hope triangles; vegetable gardening occupied his summers along with reading, bike riding and boating; he enjoyed cooking, particularly classical French dishes, and was a longtime member of the Grand Rapids Gourmet club. He loved to travel with his children, including the Caribbean, Europe and throughout the United States.
Don retired in 2000 and his first leisure project was to read 50 19th century French novels. He enjoyed learning lamp work and the art of making glass beads. In 2009 he moved back to his hometown of St. Paul and liked living on the river at Upper Landing with a deck and front windows just a stones throw from the Mississippi.
At his request there will not be a funeral service.
