Joseph James Boarman

Bellevue resident, Joseph James Boarman, passed away quietly in his sleep on Monday, September 16th. He was 77 years old. Joe was born March 21, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He joined the United States Air Force after high school and studied Chinese at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. Joe served in the Vietnam Conflict as a communications specialist aboard reconnaissance planes. While assigned to duty in Taiwan, Joe met his future wife, Robin. Soon after, son Christopher joined the family. Joe left the Air Force after several tours to concentrate on his family. He and Robin moved to Omaha where Joe attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Robin moved to the East Coast to be near family while Joe began a second stint in the Armed Forces, with the US Army for several years. After leaving the Army, Joe moved back to Nebraska to continue his education and began a long and extensive music career as a singer and guitarist. To support his music life, Joe joined the staff of the Omaha World-Herald for more than twenty years. After which, he retired to devote more time to the vocation of his heart, performing music. Among the groups Joe was a part of are The Velvet Underground, the Fishhippies, and was a founding member of BluesAgent. His vocals and guitar playing were well known among local musicians, who knew him affectionately as Uncle Joe. Joe entered the Eastern Nebraska Veterans’ Home in Bellevue due to declining health. His long-time band mate, Torri Pantaleon, recently gathered the Blues Agent band members at the Veterans Home. Torri and the Band played a concert for the residents and Joe got to sing one last time with his beloved bandmates. Word is, he rocked it! Joe is survived by son, Christopher; and granddaughter, Sella; his ex-wife and dear friend Robin; his sisters and brothers: Kathy Sweet, Nancy Turner, Eric and Michael Boarman; and his best friend, Torri Panteleon. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Mary Boarman; his sister, Carole, and brothers, Robert and Kenneth.

There will be no funeral services but there will be a private family ceremony that will be planned for later this year and friends should contact Torri for planned local celebrations of his life.