Dr. Charles “Chod” H. Bossemeyer, II, age 73, passed away on May 14, 2023 in Leawood, KS surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. He was born in Hutchinson, Kansas on August 8, 1949, to Charles Harry Bossemeyer I, and Virginia Rose Barnes, with siblings, Diana Hoyt (Bob), Dennis Bossemeyer (Susan), David Bossemeyer (Teri), and John Bossemeyer (Carol). He was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia, his father, Charles, his step-father, Roy Williamson and his brother, Dennis.
Charles attended grade school and high school in Hutchinson, KS. He voluntarily enlisted in the army in 1970 and was an 82nd Airborne paratrooper medic stationed in Turkey during the Vietnam war. Upon returning from deployment, he continued his studies and graduated from KU in 1975. He graduated in 1978 from KU Med School. He practiced family medicine in Osawatomie, KS. for 5 years, then moved to Salina, KS. in 1986 and continued to practice there for 30 years. He began his practice in Salina with Salina Family Physicians which later merged with another family practice group to form COMCARE. COMCARE later became a part of Salina Regional Health Center. Chod was a tireless advocate for his patients and took pride in the many Salina families that he provided care to. There were times he stitched up an injured friend or family member (sometimes on the kitchen table). He delivered many babies, performed several different procedures, and was often asked to assist in Surgery. He retired in 2015 due to his health conditions.
Charles is survived by his loving wife, Lori Bossemeyer, his three children, Amber Peterson (Matt), Erica Leach (Joe), and Carley Bossemeyer, his three step children, Emily O’Neill (Ben), Sam Henke, and Ben Henke (Julia), ten grandchildren, Adelynn Peterson, Logan Peterson, Daxton Tyner, Evan Leach, Benedict O’Neill, Abigail O’Neill, Josephine O’Neill, Catherine O’Neill, Sophie Henke, and Esme Henke and ex-wife Constance Bossemeyer. He is also survived by his chocolate labrador, Ike. He had several dogs over the years that he loved, including Max, Ace, Deuce, and Bandit.
He was a firm believer that puns were the highest form of humor, and Charles was a practiced teller of Dad Jokes. He loved to travel, ski, hike, fish, and golf. He would sing in the acapella choir and was a very talented tenor. He was a member of Ambucs and always enjoyed their pancake breakfasts and seeing his friends. He loved teaching his kids how to do a multitude of things, from throwing/ catching a ball, to changing a tire. He was a huge fan of the Chiefs and went to as many of the games as he could.
Any challenge he faced was a new project in his eyes. Chod could do many things, and was truly a Renaissance Man. He was never satisfied with just being a doctor; he was a plumber, an electrician, a carpenter, and a mechanic. If something wasn’t working, he would fix it. If he didn’t know how to fix it or make it, he would learn how. He was not afraid to get dirty and would say it was “good clean dirt”.
He fought a long battle from PLS (2013) and metastatic prostate cancer (2016) for several years. Even with these complications, he never stopped looking for answers, and kept doing research on everything he could. During this time, he looked for adventures in traveling and fun and kept his projects going as long as he possibly could. He will be deeply missed. He was loved by anyone that knew him and will never be forgotten.
A visitation will be held on from 4 until 7 pm Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at the Ryan Mortuary, 137 N 8th St, Salina, with family receiving friends from 5 until 7 pm. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, May 18, 2023 at the Ryan Mortuary, Salina. Burial will be at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Tunnel to Towers or West Cancer Clinic Research. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated.