Gordon C. Boardman

Obituary

Gordon Charles Boardman, age 95, passed away on May 8, 2026. Born in Millville, New Jersey on March 6, 1931 and baptized that summer by his grandfather, Norwegian Lutheran Minister at Central Lutheran Church in Rural Minnesota. He was the first-born of two sons to Gordon Cleis and Mable Elizabeth Boardman. He was predeceased by his beloved partner of fifty-three years, Richard William Wills in April 2007. His younger brother, Douglas Carter Boardman also predeceased him in July 2000.

He is survived by five maternal cousins: Lorraine Backes, Columbus, Ohio; Dorris Matson, Karen Christensen, and Jane Polley of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Henry Eldon Hanson of Phoenix, Arizona and six paternal cousins: Gail Chester of Mattawan, New Jersey; Lynne Lanthere of Hardesty, Oklahoma; Wendy Weirauch of Huston, Texas; Spencer Boardman of Norris, Tennessee; Douglas Weirauch of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Greg Weirauch of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Joy as a meaningful word ceased to be part of the lexicon of his language and his very life with the loss of his beloved Richard. Between that time and the present, he had drawn much strength and sustenance from precious friends who also loved and were loved by Richard, Namely: Pastor Jim Dyke of Vicksburg; Daniel Adam Koshelnyk and Laura A. Getty of Kalamazoo; Lance Rutledge of Brooklyn, New York; Gerald Stephen Paar of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Cindy Lett of Lawrence, Kansas.

In 1944, his family moved from Millville, New Jersey to Madison, Wisconsin so his father could pursue his doctorate in education at the University of Wisconsin. Graduating from West High School in 1948. He majored in Art and English at the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1954. He immediately reported for duty in the U.S. Army at the Ordnance Training Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland where he served for two years.

He subsequently received his Jurisdoctorate of Law at Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan in 1978 and his Master of Fine Arts in painting at Michigan State University, East Lansing in 1988. During his career as a Legislative Counsel representing a major member of the non-depository financial institutions in Lansing, he was President of the multi-branches of the Metropolitan TMCA and President of the Lansing City Club. He was a member of Lansing Rotary for over thirty years and served as First Vice President of the Kalamazoo Chapter of the United Nations Association until the present.

He established his formal painting studio at the Park Trades Center in Kalamazoo in 1990 and participated in a number of painting competitions locally and nationally and had numerous solo exhibitions in New York City; most notably at the Denise Bibro Gallery in Chelsea. A student of classical piano, he studied with Esther Rosekrans and Joseph Evans of the Michigan State University Music Department and more recently with Daniel Koshelnyk here in Kalamazoo for many years.

Of the love of his life, his beloved companion Richard, he wrote at the time of his death: “If a finer more beautiful person still walks the planet, the writer of this narrative will require validation.” Gordon was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church where Richard was confirmed in 2005. He also retained his membership at Central Lutheran Church, Fairfax, Minnesota. He will be buried there next to Richard whose marker reads: “Christ-chosen: Gordon-loved”. His own marker will say: “Precious Christ, Beloved Richard: Beloved Richard, be near me!”.

“And now my whole life breathes the wind and my hand is on the door through which I see the heavens. The door swings out upon a vast sea of darkness and prayer. It will come like this, the moment of by death? Will you open a door upon the great forest and set my feet upon a ladder under the moon, and take me out among the stars?” – Thomas Merton