Born in San Francisco, CA July 6, 1929, Ted (Theodore) Bokemeier knew several places as home before settling with his family in Hazel Dell, WA. After graduating from Vancouver High School, he worked various jobs building skills that he used all of his life, particularly car repair.
Starting flying lessons in 1948, he solo’d in 1949, then joined the Air National Guard in 1950. He was called to active duty “in an ice storm” and sworn in to the Air Force, continuing his service in the Air National Guard where he was the favored chef by the fighter pilots. “Who’s cooking this weekend?” was the common wonder when the guys signed on for their shifts.
After a drafting stint in a dead-end job, he was accepted by the University of Portland where he earned his B.S. in General Engineering in 1966. “Not bad for a farm boy from Hazel Dell,” he often said.
Ted married Edith Weihl in 1953 and their daughter Joan (now known as Heather Michet) was born in 1956. They settled in Portland, OR and over the years, enjoyed golf, skiing and traveling to many parts of the globe with friends. They later divorced.
As a member of First Baptist Church of Portland for nearly 50 years, Ted served his faith community in many capacities: usher, communion team, food server at Wednesday night & special dinners, the Stewardship Committee, and for many years doing his “little job” of distributing the offering pouches to Sunday school classrooms each week.
Ted’s love of cars and planes continued throughout his life: attending air shows with his brother Bill, enjoying the annual Sandy Kiwanis Fly-in Cruise-In with Heather, and primping over his beloved 1991 red Toyota van. Yet the longest-standing and most significant element was his preferred service work: car repair for family and friends. He loved giving back to folks in this way, ensuring that they were getting high quality work at a very reasonable price, often just for the price of parts.
A marker event was the purchase of a York Barbell weight lifting set in 1960! He began strength training and worked out several days per week until a few months before his death. This dedicated practice along with a keen focus on great nutrition, secured him robust and vibrant health for all of his years. His life was the quintessential expression of Jack LaLanne’s “Nutrition is Queen, Exercise is King. When you marry them together, you have a perfect kingdom.”
He is survived by his daughter Heather Michet, brother Gene, sister Janet Armstrong, several nieces and nephews, and zillions of friends with whom he shared many hugs, kindnesses and laughter.
In lieu of flowers, please memorialize Ted by contributing in his name to: Pittock Mansion (PittockMansion.org), Children’s Cancer Association (Joyrx.org) or Vista House (VistaHouse.com).