Merrilee Bohl

Merrilee “Micki” Bohl, age 71 of Loves Park, originally Chicago and Carpentersville, lost her battle to lung cancer and COPD on November 16th surrounded by her family and loved ones. Micki, as she became affectionately known to people as, was born on March 10, 1948 to Harry and Marilyn (nee White) Bohl in Chicago. After graduating from Saint Benedict Catholic High School in 1965, she worked various jobs until she started working in a doctor’s office where she learned medical transcription, which became her life’s work in one capacity or another, whether it was transcribing or handling doctors through managerial duties. Micki was actively involved in her own healthcare management to the very end including making the decision about her own funeral arrangements. When not working in the younger years, Micki spent many happy summers and falls camping at Holiday Acres in Garden Prairie, Illinois where she developed many friendships over a nearly 20 years span. Micki’s family was the most important thing to her. She devoted her life to her daughters and grandchildren and supported them in everything they did, good and bad, to which she will never know how much they appreciated her for it. After a job change in 1999, Micki moved to Fresno, CA and then San Diego, CA where she enjoyed the beach, the warm weather, many friends and good food, and the occasional online game of Euchre. In 2006 (a year after her mother’s passing), a decision to move to Las Vegas quickly made her realize how much she missed living around family and the decision to move back to cold, snowy Illinois was made. Micki spent the rest of her years, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great grandchild and many loved ones who supported her and helped her through her battle with lung cancer. The doctors, nurses and staff at OSF St. Anthony’s Center for Cancer Care were an amazing support for Micki during her battle and provided her with excellent healthcare as well as many laughs and love along with the support of OSF Home Health & Hospice who supported Micki with love and kindness during her last days, especially her nurse, Lisa.

Micki is survived by her daughters, Traci, Jodi and Jaimie, her sons-in-law Robert Hayden, Mark Pettenger and SuperBob Lang as well as her stepchildren Tammy Rainbolt and Bob Sheneman; her beloved Critter Kids: Staci (Nick), John (Lydia), Lena, Christian, Eric, Noah, Michael, Austin, Alan (Stacy), Nathan, Hailey, April, and Logan; and great grandchild “Hurricane” Harmony Rose as well as her brothers Richard (Billie) Hartge and John Bohl; niece and nephews: Mandy, Dave, Joey John, and Dickie Bird; loving cousins Donny, Jimmy, Cathi, George, MaryAnn, and Nancy; special loved ones Donny & Jaime Franklin, Roger & Mary Ann Pettenger, Liz & Princess Sophia Daily, and ex-husband Robert (Janet) Sheneman.

Micki is preceded in death by her parents and her cousin Judy as well as many loved family and friends.

Anyone that knows our mother knows her spirit is more than likely sitting on a bar stool with her parents, telling bad jokes and having a reunion with all her family and friends who have passed before her.

The family asks that rather than sending flowers, please send donations to OSF Center for Cancer Care or OSF Home Health & Hospice in her name for the way they lovingly took care of her during her battle with cancer.

Please contact family members for service information