Byron Boslau

Byron Lee Boslau, age 72, of Lincoln, NE, passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, in Lincoln.

Byron was born December 10, 1943, to Hank and Aladine Boslau in Ontario, OR.  He grew up in North Platte, NE and participated in football, tennis and played Legion Baseball. After graduating from North Platte High School in 1962, he attended Parks Business School in Denver, CO then worked in Imperial, NE.

In 1965 Byron was drafted into the U.S. Army and served two years. Following his discharge he returned to Nebraska. On August 6, 1967, he was united in marriage to Olinda Sherryl Odean in North Platte then they moved to Lincoln where Byron attended college. Later their son, Bradlee, was born.

Byron graduated from UNL in 1970 with a BS in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he joined the public accounting firm of Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. (now KPMG). In 1974, Byron began his career with Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Nebraska as the Accounting Manager. He was elected Treasurer in 1979, Vice President in 1984, Executive Vice President in 1986, CEO in 1991, President and CEO in 1998, and Chairman of the Board in 1999. After 42 years with Farmers Mutual, Byron retired in March 2014.

Byron was very active in the Lincoln community. He served on several boards which included Nebraska Special Olympics, Bryan Hospital, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Downtown Lincoln Association, US Bank's Advisory Board, and was a past president of the YMCA, co-chairing numerous capital campaigns. Byron was also a member of Cosmopolitan Club, Downtown Athletic Club, Hillcrest Country Club and East Lincoln Christian Church, and served as a UNL track official for 20 years.

Byron received UNL's Relay Club Spirit Award (1997), Nebraska Society of CPA's Public Service Award (2006), Nebraska Special Olympics Champion of Greatness Award (2007, 2015), UNL's College of Business Administration's Business Leadership Award (2010), Lincoln Chamber of Commerce's Roger T. Larson Community Builder's Award (2013), North Platte Public School Foundation's Distinguished Alumni Award (2013) and UNL and the Nebraska Chapter of National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's Lyell Bremser Special Merit Award (2015).

He is survived by his wife, Olinda, and son, Bradlee, both of Lincoln; brother, Don Boslau, of LaGrande, OR; uncle, William Aden, of Lincoln; aunts, Donna (Don) Happel, of North Platte and Eina Fern Aden, of Adams, NE; brother-in-law, Rick (Dodie) Odean, of North Platte; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and other family.

Byron was preceded in death by his parents, Hank and Aladine; a brother, Roy; sister, Marilyn Anderson O'Nan; and in-laws, Ollie and Alice Odean.

Funeral Service will be 1 p.m. Monday, May 16, 2016, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Lincoln. Burial with military honors will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Roper's and Sons in Lincoln, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be shared at roperandsons.com or odeanchapel.com.

The memorial book can also be signed at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore on Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Special Olympics of Nebraska, Lincoln YMCA, Bryan Hospital Foundation, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Tabitha Foundation or East Lincoln Christian Church.