Stories From the Pews of Faith*
Members of Faith share personal experiences that highlight God's love, mercy and guidance.
Leroy Boeckelman
One of the things you might have noticed about Faith is the number of folks who could be described as “people-persons”—individuals who find their energy and purpose in appreciative and helpful relationships with just about anybody. Leroy Boeckelman is one of them.
Before we start on Leroy’s story, take a moment to think what you might mean when you talk about someone who’s a people-person. Words such as extrovert, gregarious or outgoing would probably crop up. You might say something like, “It’s just enjoyable to be around someone like that.”
Some of those descriptions fit Leroy. “When I exercise at the YMCA, I initiate most conversations,” he offers. “I like to talk to people; I like to find out a little something about them.” He’s picking up conversational Spanish so he can talk with Spanish-speakers at the Y, and he’s trying to learn to play the piano “so I can play a piano concert for my 97-year-old neighbor when she turns 100.”
If you asked him any people-person questions, Leroy would probably hedge his response. He doesn’t consider himself to be an outgoing person by nature. “I grew up on a small farm. You’re by yourself all that time, so you become an introvert.” He went to a one-room grade school and a small-enrollment high school.
Somewhere along the way, perhaps during his years at the University of Missouri, he observes that “I gradually grew up to enjoy people.” In that setting, Leroy learned more of the attitudes and skills of an outgoing person. These traits served him well during his 18 ½ years of teaching math, agriculture and science at Quincy (Illinois) Junior High School and Quincy Senior High School. “Teaching is a great place to have lots of friends,” he recalls. When his career shifted to a 30-year career in insurance and financial planning—Lutheran Brotherhood and then Thrivent Financial—Leroy took along those attributes. “Financial planning gave me an opportunity to help people with their retirement,” he notes. “I became friends with lots of customers.”
This introvert who acts like an extrovert credits a good share of his well-being to his continuing exercise regimen. Leroy has always been interested in physical fitness, starting when he was teaching. In the past, he’s stayed in shape by walking, running and biking—riding 2,012 miles in 2012. Currently, his routines center on weightlifting and walking—2,000 miles in the last two years.
Leroy’s outlook on physical health fits with his gratitude for those who helped him find his way into his other-oriented careers. “My mother and father were faithful people who took me to church every Sunday,” he remembers. There were also two high school teachers, he says, who “saw something in me that gave me a little more self-esteem. One agriculture teacher helped me get to the University of Missouri; he got me a scholarship.” From those sources Leroy learned a basic lesson: “Family relationships, friends and church are so important to live a life that’s beneficial to others.”
Benefitting others. That summarizes much of what makes Leroy a people-person. It’s one reason why people over the years have considered him to be an all-around likeable guy. In Quincy, he was a Junior Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year; he entered a triathlon benefit and served on the local school board. At Faith, Leroy has been an ESL tutor and worked with Faith’s immigrant families on the garden next door to the church. Until recently, he was the person who assembled Faith Ambassador visitor welcoming teams. He tends the outside flowers at the YMCA—one way to engage others and bring some beauty to that facility. And since arriving in Glen Ellyn, he’s been politically active, too.
Although he’s not entirely sure why he started down that path, Leroy’s been part of the political landscape of Glen Ellyn since moving here about 12 years ago. (He and Jayne came here to be closer to the family of their daughter, Amy, and her husband, Tim Hohulin.) His several roles: Election judge, precinct committee person, March for Our Life co-organizer, signature collector and campaign worker.
If you’ve spent any time around Leroy, you’ve seen the personal characteristics that help him be oriented to others. He listens well, with a full-face smile that greets you. His gentle voice and ready sense of humor welcome you, making you comfortable. You sense that this man understands you, that he wants to know you better. That he just likes being around you.
Perhaps because his outlook is oriented towards others, Leroy has a lot of hope for the generation coming up. “They are a good generation,” he observes. “They’re much more accepting of other people. Not so hung up on race as we might be. They see things differently; they’re more open.”
People-persons—Leroy, our pastors, other members of Faith—are more than just friendly individuals who make this congregation a pleasant place to be. Whether extroverts or introverts, they help knit us together in common values. In similar directions. In continuing admiration for one another. We get things done together because of people-persons.
Back to where we started: Think what “people-person” might mean to you--how you’re perhaps also an introvert who’s learned to be outgoing. Perhaps Leroy Boeckelman’s story can help you see that you, too, benefit the lives of others.
That you’re a people-person, too…!
One of the things you might have noticed about Faith is the number of folks who could be described as “people-persons”—individuals who find their energy and purpose in appreciative and helpful relationships with just about anybody. Leroy Boeckelman is one of them.
Before we start on Leroy’s story, take a moment to think what you might mean when you talk about someone who’s a people-person. Words such as extrovert, gregarious or outgoing would probably crop up. You might say something like, “It’s just enjoyable to be around someone like that.”
Some of those descriptions fit Leroy. “When I exercise at the YMCA, I initiate most conversations,” he offers. “I like to talk to people; I like to find out a little something about them.” He’s picking up conversational Spanish so he can talk with Spanish-speakers at the Y, and he’s trying to learn to play the piano “so I can play a piano concert for my 97-year-old neighbor when she turns 100.”
If you asked him any people-person questions, Leroy would probably hedge his response. He doesn’t consider himself to be an outgoing person by nature. “I grew up on a small farm. You’re by yourself all that time, so you become an introvert.” He went to a one-room grade school and a small-enrollment high school.
Somewhere along the way, perhaps during his years at the University of Missouri, he observes that “I gradually grew up to enjoy people.” In that setting, Leroy learned more of the attitudes and skills of an outgoing person. These traits served him well during his 18 ½ years of teaching math, agriculture and science at Quincy (Illinois) Junior High School and Quincy Senior High School. “Teaching is a great place to have lots of friends,” he recalls. When his career shifted to a 30-year career in insurance and financial planning—Lutheran Brotherhood and then Thrivent Financial—Leroy took along those attributes. “Financial planning gave me an opportunity to help people with their retirement,” he notes. “I became friends with lots of customers.”
This introvert who acts like an extrovert credits a good share of his well-being to his continuing exercise regimen. Leroy has always been interested in physical fitness, starting when he was teaching. In the past, he’s stayed in shape by walking, running and biking—riding 2,012 miles in 2012. Currently, his routines center on weightlifting and walking—2,000 miles in the last two years.
Leroy’s outlook on physical health fits with his gratitude for those who helped him find his way into his other-oriented careers. “My mother and father were faithful people who took me to church every Sunday,” he remembers. There were also two high school teachers, he says, who “saw something in me that gave me a little more self-esteem. One agriculture teacher helped me get to the University of Missouri; he got me a scholarship.” From those sources Leroy learned a basic lesson: “Family relationships, friends and church are so important to live a life that’s beneficial to others.”
Benefitting others. That summarizes much of what makes Leroy a people-person. It’s one reason why people over the years have considered him to be an all-around likeable guy. In Quincy, he was a Junior Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year; he entered a triathlon benefit and served on the local school board. At Faith, Leroy has been an ESL tutor and worked with Faith’s immigrant families on the garden next door to the church. Until recently, he was the person who assembled Faith Ambassador visitor welcoming teams. He tends the outside flowers at the YMCA—one way to engage others and bring some beauty to that facility. And since arriving in Glen Ellyn, he’s been politically active, too.
Although he’s not entirely sure why he started down that path, Leroy’s been part of the political landscape of Glen Ellyn since moving here about 12 years ago. (He and Jayne came here to be closer to the family of their daughter, Amy, and her husband, Tim Hohulin.) His several roles: Election judge, precinct committee person, March for Our Life co-organizer, signature collector and campaign worker.
If you’ve spent any time around Leroy, you’ve seen the personal characteristics that help him be oriented to others. He listens well, with a full-face smile that greets you. His gentle voice and ready sense of humor welcome you, making you comfortable. You sense that this man understands you, that he wants to know you better. That he just likes being around you.
Perhaps because his outlook is oriented towards others, Leroy has a lot of hope for the generation coming up. “They are a good generation,” he observes. “They’re much more accepting of other people. Not so hung up on race as we might be. They see things differently; they’re more open.”
People-persons—Leroy, our pastors, other members of Faith—are more than just friendly individuals who make this congregation a pleasant place to be. Whether extroverts or introverts, they help knit us together in common values. In similar directions. In continuing admiration for one another. We get things done together because of people-persons.
Back to where we started: Think what “people-person” might mean to you--how you’re perhaps also an introvert who’s learned to be outgoing. Perhaps Leroy Boeckelman’s story can help you see that you, too, benefit the lives of others.
That you’re a people-person, too…!
Read Previous Stories of Triumph and Inspiration:
Paula Serfling Nugent
Art Oberwetter
Beatrice Ndayisenga
Karen Finerty
Cole Swanstrom
Melanie Rohla
Kathy Dibadj
Bob and Sylvia Wulffen
Jason Loebach
Bob Hawkinson
Molly Hall Barrett
Grant and Mary Kelley
Retta Hennessy
Alan Foster
Pilvi Innola
Amy Kerman-Gutzmer and Patrick Gutzmer
Andrew Sells
Beth Nyland
Tom Wendorf
Cindy and Jeff Crosby
David Hooker
Art Oberwetter
Beatrice Ndayisenga
Karen Finerty
Cole Swanstrom
Melanie Rohla
Kathy Dibadj
Bob and Sylvia Wulffen
Jason Loebach
Bob Hawkinson
Molly Hall Barrett
Grant and Mary Kelley
Retta Hennessy
Alan Foster
Pilvi Innola
Amy Kerman-Gutzmer and Patrick Gutzmer
Andrew Sells
Beth Nyland
Tom Wendorf
Cindy and Jeff Crosby
David Hooker