Carl Emil Boettcher

Carl Emil Boettcher was a man of strong faith and love for his Lord and his church. At the age of 97 years and 15 days, the Lord told Carl his room was ready and it was time to come home.

On Friday, November 24th, 2023, Carl’s struggle with dementia ended. He was born on November 9th, 1926 to Reverend Immanuel and Grace (Scholz) Boettcher in Merrill, WI. He attended school in New London before enlisting in the Navy during WWII, eventually serving on the USS Kaskaskia until he was honorably discharged in 1947. He then furthered his education to become an architect, engineer and building inspector. He had his own business Boettcher & Ginnow Architects in Neenah until he retired. He did numerous jobs for the city of Neenah including the preservation of the Neenah Clock Tower.

On May 6th, 1950, Carl married Audrey Korth. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage until she passed away in 2014. Carl designed and personally built, with Audrey always helping, the homes they lived in from Neenah, to Long Lake in Waushara County, to Sawyer County. When he retired he moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas, where he lived for some 30 years. He was an avid sportsman and an excellent carpenter and craftsman. He could build just about anything! Especially all of the radio controlled airplanes he made for people. One of which, as the story was told by Audrey, “it was so big he had to take the window out of the bedroom to get it out of the house.” He worked with WELS Builders for Christ, where he and Audrey traveled across the US (with their dogs, too many to name) designing and building some 12 churches. He also designed and helped build his own church, Grace Lutheran in Lowell, Arkansas. He also made the altar, pulpit and lectern for Grace.

Carl is survived by his sister Jane, nieces and nephews and his special pooch, Lilly girl.

Carl was preceded in death by his wife Audrey, his parents and his sister Clarissa.

A memorial Service will be held November 30th at 3PM at Grace Lutheran Church, 415 N6th Place, Lowell Arkansas. Rev. Charles Huebner officiating. Inurnment will be in Fayetteville National Cemetery.

Epting Funeral Home in Bella Vista has helped with arrangements.

A special thank you to Pastor Huebner for all his visits with Carl, and bringing Lilly along to sit on Carl’s bed. Thank you also to Highlands Health & Rehab for their care and concern during these past three years.