Dr. Louis W. "Bill" Boyer D.V.M.

Dr. Louis W. (Bill) Boyer D.V.M., "almost 94", died peacefully at home with his family around him on May 25, 2021 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was born in Custer, Michigan on September 14, 1927, the son of Louis and Magdalene (Rudzinis) Boyer. He was preceded in death by his parents, his infant daughter. He was the oldest of five children: Rosalie Price, Marion Riffle, Ted Boyer, and Judy Schmiege. He is survived by his loving wife, Lucille, of 67 years. Father of Benjamin (Denise), Bonnie (Brian) Herbert, Brian (Karen), and Brent. Proud grandfather of Michelle (Jeff) Hoxworth, Ryan (Heather) Seymour, Abigail (Steven) Rogers, Alex (Colleen) VanEenenaam, Nicholas and Lauren (Herbert), Brittany, and Cole (Boyer). Great-grandfather of Xander, Addison, Quinn (Hoxworth); Landon, Layla, Leanna (Seymour); and Bernadette Rogers.

Bill was a shining example of the Greatest Generation. He valued family, worked hard, and was practical. He grew up during the Great Depression, in Custer, Michigan, and enlisted in the Army during WWII. He honorably served his country and was able to pursue higher education due to the GI Bill. He went to Michigan State University and became a veterinarian. This is where he met his wife, Lucille, of 67 years where they married at the Alumni Chapel on campus. He opened his own veterinary practice in Portage, Michigan called Southland Animal Hospital. Education was very important to him and he has a Portage Education Foundation Scholarship in his name with the Portage Public Schools and a generous donor to the MSU Foundation where they established "Louis (Bill) and Lucille Boyer Endowed Fund for CVM Oncology Research" for MSU's Veterinary school for cancer research. In addition to being a veterinarian; he was an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, volunteered with the American Red Cross on eleven different disasters including 9/11, served on the Portage Public School's Board of Education for 20 years, Hartford School Board for 4 years, Portage Chamber of Commerce, Portage Rotary Club, coached Little League and Rocket Football Teams, and worked a "Wheat Harvest" at 70 years of age. He was always giving back to someone or some organization. He enjoyed: construction with his family, gardening, writing, history buff, crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, playing bridge, and traveling the world.

Visitation will be held from 11:00am to 1:00pm on Tuesday, June 1st at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Burial & Cremation Services, 411 E. Centre Ave. where a service to celebrate Bill's life will begin at 1:00pm. Interment will follow in Portage South Cemetery.

Donations may be given to the West Michigan Cancer Center.

Please visit Bill's personalized web page to sign his online guest book and leave a message or condolence for his family at: https://www.langelands.com