Dr. John Michael Boles

Dr. John Michael Boles, MD, age 76 of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on October 7, 2011, with his loving family by his side.

Born on August 16, 1935, in Roeland Park, Kansas, he was the son of the late Mrs. Geraldine Mary "Gerry" Boles and Mr. William Albert "Al" Boles. He attended St. Agnes Catholic grade school and high school. He was a very gifted high school actor, that played the lead in almost every play the school produced. One of the productions was broadcast on WHB-TV5. He then attended Rockhurst College and graduated in 1955 with a degree in Chemistry. He then attended Kansas University School of Medicine, located in Lawrence, Kansas, and was a member of the PHI-KKI Medical Fraternity and graduated with a degree in Family Medicine. He got married before his graduation to the late Constance Claire Boles, he then attended St. Margaret’s Hospital for his internship.

He started his Family Medical Practice in 1962 with his partner he met in college at the Medical Fraternity, Dr. James R. Webb, M.D. Their office was located at 5949 Nieman Road, Shawnee, Kansas. He was also was the court appointed Johnson County Coroner from 1967 to 1997. He also held the office of the President of the Medical staff at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in 1990. He also provided Family Medical practice in Louisburg, Kansas, every other week to see patients that had no doctor in that very small town. He was very proud of the fact that he delivered babies to the children he had seen as infants and taken care of during their lives. He was one of very few doctor’s that made house calls to the sick.

He also was a great fly fisherman, loved the outdoors and fishing the streams of Roaring River Missouri State Park. He loved to play his guitar by the campfire at night. He wrote and recorded one of his songs at Damon Recording Studios in Kansas City, Missouri. He also liked to bring all his friends together for a fireside get together with his and family and friends to sing all his favorite folk songs. He also attended. St. Joseph Catholic Church where he sang in the choir and looked forward to playing his guitar and sing a solo at each and every midnight Christmas Mass.

He touched each and all of the people that he encountered in his life and will always be remembered by his love of the Lord and his clever wit of life. His family and friends will be remembered with all the folk songs he wrote and sang.

He is survived by his four children John Michael Boles Jr., David M. Boles, Daniel A Boles and Paul J. Boles; 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

May his soul live in all of us, and rest in peace and grace with the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

A visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 11, 2011, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee with the Rosary recited at 6:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 12, 2011, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Shawnee, Kansas. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Shawnee, Kansas.