Douglas L. Boss
Douglas L. Boss lost his valiant battle with prostate cancer and dementia on Sept. 14, 2019.
Doug was born Oct. 19, 1936, to Howard and Viola (nee McGurer) Boss, both deceased. He was the oldest of the three children of Howard and Viola, Carol (Jim) Keightley, Linda (Frank – deceased) Morton.
He married his high school sweetheart, Geraldine A. Boss (nee Sojka) on June 23, 1956. As the story goes, Howard told Doug, “If you don’t hurry up and ask her to marry you, I will!”
Doug and Gerry tried for several years to have children until they became parents to two boys. The number #1 son, Denzil (Debbie) Boss, of Columbia Station, and their favorite, Darrin (Peggy) Boss, of Havre, Mont.
Doug was a grandfather to four, Denzil Jr. (Heather) Boss, of Rochester, N.Y., Daniel (Jordyn) Boss, of Germantown, Md., Devin Boss and the Princess Deeanna Boss. He recently became a great-grandfather to Sebastian Boss.
He was father, friend and hunting partner to another “adopted son,” James (Joyce) Yuko, with whom, among other things, he spent several years traveling the western landscapes chasing elk.
Doug was a lifelong resident of Chester Township, growing up on the old Moss Farm Dairy. He was a servant to all, but always had Gerry, his most faithful supporter, by his side.
Howard and Viola set a strong example for him to follow. Doug was so proud that his mother served as a volunteer for Geauga Community Hospital longer than she was a kindergarten teacher, and his father was one of the charter members of the Chesterland Volunteer Fire Department.
Doug also served the community as a second generation fireman on the department. He served in many capacities, but is mostly remembered as chief and, during his time, he helped to build the department from a small-town district service toward the well-funded tax-supported department that it is today. The leadership team under his direction as chief was instrumental in first developing the ambulance service for Chesterland. Even on his wedding day, when the fire bell rang, Doug and his father Howard responded, that is until Gerry — for probably the first and last time — talked Doug into staying at the reception. The photo of the wedding was Howard standing on the roof of a house on fire, in his suit.
Doug tried everything to keep busy and moving; sitting still was just not in him. Even in his last days walking around his care facility asking someone to point him in the direction to Montana, he could not stay still long.
He loved catching, not fishing for, his limit of walleyes on Lake Erie. Hunting was a lifelong passion, often hunting the same hardwoods he did as a child for squirrels and deer, or pursuing elk in Montana and caribou in Canada.
Pheasant hunting in Nebraska was in all reality a chance to spend time with the two exceptional Drahthaar dogs (Joss and Dan) he truly loved, and who he kept looking for up until his death.
Doug’s life was characterized with a deep concern for family and helping others before himself. All of these activities provided the basis for what may have been Doug’s favorite pass time, one that he continued even when he couldn’t do the others — telling stories — usually with a great laugh at the end.
Cremation has taken place and, as per Doug’s wishes, his ashes will be scattered across various favorite hunting and fishing destinations, but, of course, he will never be far from the corner of Chillicothe and Mayfield.
Also at his wish, a public funeral ceremony will not be held for this humble servant, but in honor of Doug, his family requests that you participate in two of Doug’s favorite past times.
Please tell us a story that you would like to share of Doug at www.gattozziandson.com.
Last, but surely not least, please find someone to serve, even as Doug served his community to the very end as an organ donor.
If you feel so inclined, in leu of flowers to the family, please send flowers to someone who has served like Doug or please make donations to the Chesterland Volunteer Fire Department or the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).
Historically, the toll of a bell summoned firemen to the station, signaled the beginning of a shift, notified departments of a call for help, and indicated a call was completed and the unit had returned to the station. Rest easy Chief, your shift is complete.
