Don Paul Boggs

1937 - 2010

Don Paul Boggs, former State’s Attorney and long-time resident of Havana, Illinois, died on Sunday, March 14^th due to complications from surgery in Little Rock, Arkansas at age 72.

Born in Jackson, Michigan on June 21, 1937 to Paul Revere and Dorothy Ann (Drake) Boggs, Don Paul is survived by wife Cheryl Jean Boggs, five children; Craig Boggs (married to Jennifer Boggs) of Hinsdale, IL, Christopher Boggs (married to Karen Boggs) of Springfield, IL, Kelly Barna (married to Tim Barna) of Berkeley, CA, Corey Helm (married to Dan Helm), of Crystal Lake, IL and Casey Boggs (married to Nicole Boggs) of Portland, OR, and fourteen grandchildren.  Don Paul had one brother who died of complications of a childhood disease at the age of six.  

Cheryl has four children Ryan Watson, Kendra Braden, Trisha Stewart, Jason Watson and nine grandchildren.

Don Paul graduated from Havana High School in 1955 and was a member of one of the Havana Ducks most successful boys varsity basketball teams. He received his B.A. from Knox College in Galesburg, IL (member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity), J.D. from the University of Detroit, and was a member of the United States National Guard.

In addition to being States Attorney in 1964, Don Paul was also Assistant Attorney General in the mid ‘60s.  He later was partner at the Havana law firms Lemmer, Velde & Boggs, Lemmer, Boggs, Knuppel & Krebaum and Boggs & Knuppel.  Don Paul was on the board of directors of the State Bank of Havana in the 1970s and 1980s and on the board of directors of Havana National Bank from the 1990s to present.  He was Village Attorney for the city of Havana, Forest City and Manito, as well as on the board of directors of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund (based in Champaign and Chicago, IL) from the 1970s to the mid-90s.

Don Paul was an avid reader, traveler, historian of Abraham Lincoln and golfer, for which he was a charter member of Lakewood Golf Course.  He was also passionate about the Fighting Illini, Detroit Pistons, Lions and Tigers.  

Visitation will be held at Hurley’s Funeral Home (217 N. Plum St., Havana, IL) on Friday, March 19^th from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM.  Memorial service will be held at the Havana First United Methodist Church (101 S. Broadway) on Saturday, March 20^th at 11:00 AM. Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.