Ed Boesen, a florist and well-known entrepreneur in Des Moines, Iowa, died July 15.

Surprise and grief have marked the response from the community in which Boesen, 43 years old, was a familiar, friendly force. In addition to his work with the family business, Boesen the Florist, one of the nation's largest family-owned flower shops, Boesen recently purchased his own shops. In 2007, Boesen acquired six Amlings Flowerland locations in the Chicago suburbs, nine Andicott Fresh Flower Markets in Michigan and Piccolo's Florist & Gifts in Omaha, having already bought Locker's Florist in the Milwaukee area in 2001. The Andicott locations abruptly closed on Friday, the day of Boesen's funeral, the Des Moines Register reported.

The Boesen family has owned their business since 1923, except for about a two-year period, from October 1998 to February 2001, when Gerald Stevens, a retail consolidator that eventually failed, purchased it. Some Boesen family members bought back their operation in February 2001.

Ed Boesen's connections and kinetic energy moved him beyond the family business and into other pursuits. In the past year, he'd bought an aircraft fuel and charter business at a regional airport, purchased a printing firm and launched a magazine. The first issue of Inspired About Des Moines, the magazine he launched, came out last month.

"His mind was always working," Tom DeSio, an assistant Polk County attorney told the Register of his personal friend. He was "absolutely a dynamo."

Ed Boesen is survived by his wife, Maureen LaBonia Boesen; four children; mother; seven siblings and numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren. Read the complete obituary.

--Amanda Long
along@safnow.org

 

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