Elva L. Boese

Elva Lorrine (Gerard) Boese, after 100 years of life, mother of six, homemaker, dental aide, teacher's aide, artist, writer and missionary, has gone home to be with her Lord and Savior on November 22, 2021 at her home surrounded by family. She was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on October 4, 1921, to Oscar and Bessie (Wiltse) Gerard. Elva was a homemaker for her husband and six children, and when the children were grown, she worked in a dental office. She received her GED in 1973, then worked for the Saginaw City schools as a teacher's aide. Elva was an artist and many of her paintings, sketches, and silhouettes adorn the walls of her children's and grandchildren's homes. She showed her compassion for others by providing hand-made blankets and warm clothing for churches in Latvia, then in her late 90's, helping make over 300 slippers for the Saginaw Rescue Mission. She and her husband Ralph made two trips to Cote d'Ivoire to join their son Glenn and his family in mission work among the Nyarafolo, and Elva demonstrated her love across language and cultural barriers through acts of service and friendliness. Through the years she has been known for her constancy in praying for loved ones here and abroad.
Elva was a faithful member of Immanuel Bible Church where she served in the children's church ministry.
Surviving her are her children: Teri (Vincent) Cox, Beverly (John) Coates, Robert (Mary) Boese, and Glenn (Linnea) Boese, son-in-law Peter Croisant, and daughter-in-law Dixie Boese. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Ralph who passed after their 71 years of marriage, her son Daniel (Dixie) Boese, her daughter Diane (Peter) Croisant, her grandson Eric Cox, her great grandson Jonathon Boese, her brothers Floyd (Huldah) Gerard, Kenneth (Dorothy) Gerard, Daniel (Martha) Gerard, and her sisters Emma (William) Madden, Laura (Raymond) Wright, Phyllis (Gerald) Johnson, and Marilyn (Hugh) Smith.
A private funeral service with the immediate family will be held at W.L Case and Company Funeral Home, 4480 Mackinaw, with Rev. Matt Beery officiating. Burial to follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. A public memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations in memory of Elva Boese to: Camp Barakel, P.O. Box 159, Fairview, MI 48621-0159, or Saginaw Rescue Mission, 1021 Burt St, Saginaw, MI 48607, or World Venture, 20 Inverness Pl E, Englewood, CO 80112 (with a note to donate to the Nyarafolo Compassion fund, 6462-967)