Richard G. Bohn

Richard G. Bohn, 89, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Sunrise Senior Living in Plano, Texas.

Memorial Services will be held in Hasley Chapel on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 1:00 pm at St. Andrew Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas. Interment of ashes will be in Concord Township Cemetery in Garner, Iowa, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to:  Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children or send a check to: Development Department, Scottish Rite for Children, P.O. Box 122027, Dept. 2027, Dallas, TX 75312-2027, Garner United Methodist Church or St. Andrew Methodist Church in Plano in memory of Richard.

Richard, the son of Carl W. and Meta M. (Lemke) Bohn, was born January 27, 1936, in Mason City, Iowa. Richard graduated from Garner-Hayfield High School in 1954, then continued his education at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, graduating with a double major in Business Administration and Interior Design. On June 26, 1958, he married Jeanie May Jensen, and to this union two sons were born, Steven Gregory and Alan Jeffery Bohn. On December 11, 1963, Richard married Linda Louis James. To this union four children were born: Michael Ray, Richard Eric, Christina Marie and Theodore Patrick Bohn.

In 1958, Richard bought the family business, Carl W. Bohn Furniture. For the next 25 years, the business developed into a major interior decorating center of Garner and the surrounding north Iowa area. During the same years, Richard worked alongside his father at the Bohn Funeral Home. The funeral home was sold in 1976 when his parents retired. A career change for both Richard and Linda prompted the family to relocate to Ankeny, Iowa, where the four younger Bohn children grew up.

In 1989, Richard moved to Dallas, Texas. He was employed by the Texas Paint & Wallpaper Company using both his interior design and retail background, and he headed up the wallcovering division of their four stores, managing one of them.

Richard and Karen Ann (Kelly) Slayter were married on October 5th, 1990 in Dallas, Texas. They were married in the Oak Cliff Christian Church, the place they first met while both were singing in the church choir. Karen and Richard were very active in the church; choir, adult Sunday school classes and helping with many meals cooked and served during the church years. Richard and Karen retired in 1998. They built and moved into their retirement home in Sun City in Georgetown, Texas in 2000, Texas’ first golf cart community. They could be seen in their 1934 Ford-styled golf cart, traveling throughout the neighborhood to many friends’ homes for a game of cards or dominoes. They enjoyed hosting many of these social events as well. Together they enjoyed traveling by land and sea, going on many cruises in the Caribbean and to Alaska. Richard had been a member at the woodworking and stained-glass clubs in their community, using his creative gifts. He not only made his own stained-glass designs but also instructed others in advanced classes in box making and kaleidoscopes.

In February 2001, Richard and Karen started working for the State of Texas to help operate the Gift Shop in the Capitol Visitor Center, the building located on the Capitol grounds. Richard and Karen retired for the second time on November 30, 2010, after working their weekends for 10 years. When asked by family if they didn’t get tired of working every weekend, Richard’s quick reply was, “We’re retired! Every day is the weekend to us!”

In his earlier years, Richard was a member of the Garner United Methodist Church, serving on the board, taking part in Methodist Men, choir and youth groups. He served as a past director of the Garner Chamber of Commerce. He volunteered over 28 years with the Boy Scouts of America as local Committee Chairman of Garner’s Cub Scout Pack 19 and Boy Scout Troop 19, Lakeland District Cub Scout Commissioner and Lakeland District Eagle Scout Board of Review member. He was very proud of five Eagle Scouts in the Bohn family – including two sons and three grandsons. One son earned the Silver Beaver award and now a great-grandson is coming up through the ranks.

Richard was a Master Mason for more than 60 years and a life member of the Bethel Lodge No. 319 in Garner and was one of the founders and charter members of the San Gabriel Lodge No. 89 of Georgetown, Texas. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason for more than 60 years as a member of Za-Ga-Zig Shrine in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as a member of the Ben Hur Shriners in Austin, Texas.

In August 2023, with the help of their family, Richard and Karen moved to Sunrise Senior Living in Plano, Texas. While residing there, they have made many good friends. Richard became very fond of the staff and medical professionals who cared for him and Karen. He was so thankful for their care, support and friendship.

Richard is survived by the love of his life, his sweetheart Karen; six children, Steven G. Bohn and wife Jackie, their son Jackson; Alan J. Bohn and wife Pamela; Michael R. Bohn and wife Nancy, their children Brandon, Aaron and Karissa; Richard E. Bohn and wife Sue, and his daughter Jenifer along with her mother, Missy Bohn; Christina M. Chapman and husband Todd and their children Brittany, Kendra and Megan; and son Theodore P. Bohn and his wife Melissa Ann and her sons Tyler Monroe and Keegan Peyton; three stepsons Kevin Slayter and wife Deborah and their sons Landon, Cameron and Zachary; Kelly Slayter and wife Rebecca and children Justin, Jessica, Andrew, David and Sydney; Kenneth Slayter and wife Claudia and sons Matthew and Bradley; one sister Elizabeth L. Tompkins; nephew Jay Tompkins with Ken Johnson and niece Julie Bahmann and husband Richard; and 33 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl W. Bohn and Meta M. (Lemke) Bohn; and brother-in-law Claire A. Tompkins.