William "Bill" Boje died early Easter morning, April 12, 2020, at the age of 91.  Bill was born in St. Louis, Missouri to George and Pauline Boje.  Bill proudly served in the Missouri National Guard and the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War where he rose to the rank of Staff Sargent.  Bill was a born leader with a commanding, yet gentle demeanor, and accomplished much during his lifetime.  He began his career in the retail business where he rose to the level of Vice President of Scruggs-Vandervoort-Barney a department store chain in St. Louis.  In 1959, he left the retail business to build his first bowling center, Marlborough Lanes, in St. Louis County.  He was made a lifetime Deputy for the Village of Marlborough, he formed the Hwy 66 Businessman's Association, became involved in the St. Louis and Missouri State Bowling Proprietors' Associations, were he became multiple term President of these associations.  He joined the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, which is the bowling industry's national trade association, serving many roles including Treasurer.   In the early 1970's he invested in and operated a fishing resort on Table Rock Lake in Southwest Missouri named Wilderness Point Resort.

In late 1977, he leased out Marlborough Lanes and sold Wildness Point Resort and two years later in 1979 he attempted to retire and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida.  This was a short lived retirement, as in early 1980 he bought a Hallmark card store in Pinellas Park, Florida and within a year was recognized and honored with the award as the Businessman of the Year for Pinellas Park.  By late 1980, he was back in the bowling business where he operated a chain of bowling centers throughout Florida.  He joined the St. Petersburg and the Florida State Bowling Proprietors' Associations and once again served multiple terms as the President of both associations.  His daughter, Christy, began working with him in 1985.  His son, Jeff, joined him in June of 1988 and it was decided that the future was in larger, more diverse entertainment centers.  Bill took back Marlborough Lanes in 1988 and renamed it Sunset Lanes, and within a few short years reestablished it as one of the busiest bowling centers in St. Louis County.  In 1990, along with Jeff, he built Brandon Crossroads Bowl in Brandon (Tampa), Florida.  In 2007, along with his daughter, Christy and her husband Cary, his daughter, Debbie, and son Jeff and his wife Sherrie, he built The Alley at SouthShore.  All three centers are recognized among the finest in the country and top performers.

Throughout his career his centers always supported many charitable organizations but near and dear to his heart was Special Olympics, Toys for Tots, and Veteran's organizations.  In 2003, he was bestowed the highest honor in the bowling industry and was inducted into the International Bowling Hall of Fame for meritorious service and a lifetime of selfless giving to the industry that he loved and had truly become an icon.  Known by many as Mr. "B", he never did retire.  Instead he went to work in his centers every day up until the time the coronavirus forced the centers to close to the public.

"Mr. B" lived his life seeing the good in everything and everyone.  He loved the song "My Way" by Frank Sinatra.  He lived life on his terms and always did things "his way".  He never said "I wish this, or I wish that".  He often quoted his mother by saying, "If frogs had wings they would not bump their butts on the ground."  It was what it was, and he went about doing things his way and always managed to find a positive outcome, regardless of the hard knocks along the way.

Although Bill accomplished many things in the bowling industry, he was most proud of his family.  He was a devoted husband and a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle.  Despite his demanding work schedule, he always found time for his family.   He was always there to help and to enjoy the day to day and important events of his family's life.

Bill was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle as well as friend and mentor to so many people.  He will forever remain an icon and pioneer in the bowling industry.  He will be deeply missed by the countless people throughout the country who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Mr. "B" will always be remembered by the people he loved as being compassionate, passionate, unwavering in his convictions and the passions that he pursued.  He was an amazing man who never bothered to wish he had wings, he simply accepted that he would bump his butt on the ground from time to time but remained forever optimistic about the future.

He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years Gloria, his three children, Christine White (Cary), Jeffrey Boje (Sherrie), Debbie Boje; five grandchildren, Kelson (fiancé Megan), Kindle, Kaleb, Kollin, Kearsten; great grandchild, Braylen Boje; brother Richard Boje'; sister-in law Shirley (Spacil) Steinkamp, and many Nieces & Nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, George and Pauline, his siblings Helen (Adolph) Schneider, Margaret (Alvin) Zachritz, Dorothy (Joseph) Young, Annabelle (Walter) Seckel, George (Evelyn) Boje; sister-in-law Carolyn Boje', brother-in-law William Steinkamp.

Due to the CDC guidelines a private viewing will be held at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home on April 22, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., a private mass will be held at St. Stephens Catholic Church on April 23, 2020 at 10:30 a.m., please follow the link to the live stream https://www.facebook.com/ststephencatholicchurch and immediately afterwards he will be laid to eternal rest at Serenity Meadows Memorial Park.

A celebration of his life will take place at Brandon Crossroads Bowl when the center reopens.  Keeping with his love of veterans and bowling, in lieu of flowers: memorial donations may be made by going to https://bowlforveterans.org .  A special fund is being set up so please note your gift is for Bill Boje.