Scott Wiser Boyden

Scott Wiser Boyden, 65, Galesburg, died at 10:11am Saturday March 19th at home.

He was born May 4, 1950 the son of Robert William, Sr. and Gwendolyn Gunther Boyden.  He married Carla Lynn Carper of Buda on August 5, 1972, in Galesburg. 

Scott is survived by his wife; his two sons Andrew Wiser (Ann) Boyden of Virginia Beach, VA and Alexander Wiser (Michelle) Boyden of Iowa City, IA; his daughter Kara Carper (Scott) DeGraff of Tampa, FL; his five grandsons Scott Wyatt Boyden, Matthew Wiser Boyden, Joshua William Boyden, Owen Sebastian DeGraff, and William Wiser Boyden; his granddaughter Cora Carper DeGraff; his older sister Rebecca (Martin) Pschirrer of Rockford, IL; his older brother Robert (Sharon) Boyden, Jr. of Overland Park, KS; his nephew Robert Pschirrer of Rockford; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his niece, Jean Pschirrer of Rockford, IL.

Scott grew up in Sheffield and graduated from Western High School in Buda.  He graduated from Knox College and the Iowa School of Banking.  At Knox, Scott studied history and economics, played basketball and golf, and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

He began his banking career at First National Bank in Iowa City in 1972.  While he was in Iowa City, Scott was also the treasurer of the Johnson County Republican Party.  He continued his career in Galesburg in 1984, the last ten years with F&M Bank.  Over the years, Scott served on a great many finance committees.

Scott was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church and served as treasurer and deacon.  He was the chairman of the board at Cottage Hospital for 20 years, and was recently on the board of the Cottage Hospital Foundation.  Scott was a longtime board member of the National Stearman Foundation and the National Stearman Fly-In, where he served as treasurer.  He was a member of Soangetaha Country Club for most of his life, and served on the board there in many capacities.  He loved to play golf and the camaraderie of the game.

Scott was the kind of man that – even if you had only met him once – you knew was one of the good guys.  He embodied integrity, honesty, and character.  There was little grey area with Scott. He believed in the right way to do things. Scott was not just a good guy. He was a great guy.

Scott was the personification of a family man.  He absolutely adored his wife of almost 44 years.  She was his best friend, and he often remarked that Carla was the best thing that ever happened to him.

He was such a “dad.”  Always incredibly and visibly proud of his three children, Scott talked often of how blessed beyond reason he and Carla were. He watched their every academic achievement and athletic event with excitement and pride.

Scott was extremely proud of the adults his children became and of the three spouses they added to the family.  Scott adored his children and was besotted with his grandchildren.

Those five little boys and that little girl were the top of his mountain.  He said every time, “Now that’s a grandchild!” And they dearly loved their Bahpa.

He will be missed beyond measure.

Visitation will be 4 to 7p.m. Wednesday March 23, 2016, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel.  Funeral will be at 11a.m. at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel with Pastor Mary Runge officiating.  Private family burial will be in Sheffield Cemetery, Sheffield, Illinois. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.