Losing a loved one is never easy, but when Charles Boehm lost his father, Robert Adolph Boehm, he chose a unique way to honor him: with a hilariously sharp and sarcastic eulogy that has now gone viral.
The tribute, written just days after the elder Boehm’s passing, gives readers a glimpse into the colorful life of a man who went out in true form—muttering his last words in frustration in his Clarendon, Texas apartment.
A Eulogy Unlike Any Other
Charles, 41, didn’t hold back in his eulogy for his 74-year-old father, blending humor, sarcasm, and a touch of irreverence.
He paints a vivid picture of his father as a cantankerous, foul-mouthed old trucker whose personality stayed true right until the end.
The tribute begins with a tongue-in-cheek jab, as Charles describes his father’s final moments:
“Robert Adolph Boehm, in keeping with his lifelong devotion to his own unique code of decorum, muttered his final, likely unnecessary, curse on October 6, 2024,” he wrote, recalling how his dad tripped backward over “some stupid mother****ing thing” before hitting his head.
From there, Charles takes readers on a journey through his dad’s life, filled with colorful stories and biting humor that only a son could deliver.
A Life Full of Color and Chaos
Robert Boehm’s life, according to his son, was as chaotic and unpredictable as his death.
Charles spares no details, humorously recounting how his father, after impregnating and marrying his mother Dianne as a teenager, managed to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War by becoming a full-time trucker.
Charles jokes that it was probably for the best, given Robert’s later hobby of shooting, which resulted in two accidental holes in his own car’s dashboard.
“He managed to blow not one, but two holes in the dash of his own car,” Charles wrote, poking fun at his dad’s questionable firearm skills.
A Unique Hobby and an Even More Unique Style
The eulogy doesn’t stop at Robert’s misadventures with guns.
Charles goes on to describe his father’s passion for collecting weapons of war and his peculiar sense of fashion, which included homemade leather moccasins, bizarre hats, and mismatched outfits.
His apartment, Charles quips, was so cluttered with weapons from historical conflicts that one of them might have been responsible for Robert’s final mishap.
There’s also a nod to Robert’s love for harmonicas—not to play himself, but to give to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren for noisy road trips, much to their parents’ chagrin.
A Loving, Yet Irreverent Tribute
Though the eulogy is filled with sarcasm, there’s an underlying affection in Charles’ words.
He touches on the more serious moments, such as his mother’s passing earlier that year, but even that is written with the same biting humor:
“God finally showed mercy by getting her the hell out of [their house] for some well-earned peace and quiet,” he writes.
After Dianne’s death, Robert had no one left to entertain but the residents of Clarendon, and Charles notes that if they hadn’t met Robert yet, they probably would have soon enough.
His dad, he said, “shifted his creative focus to the entertainment of you, the fine townspeople.”
Going Viral and a Bigger Message
The eulogy, which was shared online, quickly gained traction, with readers applauding Charles for his humor and heart.
The story was even picked up by the Washington Post, leading to an interview with Charles, who emphasized that despite the sarcasm, the tribute was a way of honoring a man he loved deeply.
Charles also used the moment to shine a light on a bigger issue: the mental health of elderly people in small towns.
“People go to these rural places to retire, but when they’re old and their kids have moved away, they end up alone,” Charles said. “We need to look after them.”
In the end, Charles’ tribute wasn’t just about his father’s life—it was a call to support those who often get left behind.