Community Mourns Longtime Pastor, Brandon Resident

Brandon residents will say goodbye to longtime First Baptist Church of Brandon pastor, Dr. Fred Boehmer, at a memorial service Sunday, Nov. 11, at First Baptist, 216 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon.

The service will take place at 1 p.m.

The longtime Brandon resident died last week in Virginia following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He and his wife, Vida, had moved to Virginia to be closer to their children.

Originally from Canada, Boehmer served as a pastor at a number of churches during his 40-year career. His last post was at First Baptist Church of Brandon where he took over as pastor in 1976 and retired 19 years later.

He also served at churches in Tennessee, Texas and Connecticut where he baptized radio talk show host Don Imus.

He held degrees from Wheaton College, Southwestern Baptist Seminary and Luther Rice Seminary, and received an honorary doctorate of divinity from Stetson University.

During his time in Brandon, Boehmer was involved in a number of service organizations. He helped found the Emergency Care Help Organization in Brandon, was a charter member of the Brandon Unit of the American Cancer Society, was a longtime member of the Brandon Rotary Club and was active in the Brandon Ministerial Association, reaching out to all congregations in the community.