Joyce "Bo" Kreis

Joyce “Bo” Kreis 
Bo Kreis passed away peacefully, age 94, on November 25, 2023 in Sacramento, California.
She was born in Los Angeles on March 20, 1929 and was adopted by Jessie (Willis) Boughner and Benjamin F. Boughner as an infant.  
The family moved from Long Beach to Riverside when Bo was young. She grew up on a ranch with orange groves, horses, cows, and chickens. Her constant companion was her adopted brother Lemuel (Lem) who was tragically killed in an accident in 1954.
Bo was Prom Queen of Riverside High School and Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters. Upon graduation, she headed to northern California for a BS in Nursing at UCSF.
Her dorm at nursing school was across from the medical students’ dorm and she met the love of her life, medical student, Van Allen C. Kreis (deceased 2022), playing touch football in the street. They married in the summer of 1951 while they were still students. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2021.
Their first child, Paul Kreis, was born in 1953, and Ann joined the family in 1955.
When Van completed his radiology residency, he joined the USAF as a captain. The family of four spent two years with the military in Europe in the late 50s. Bo looked fondly upon those years in England and Germany for the rest of her life.
Upon return to the United States, her son Donald was born in San Jose in 1959. The family moved to Sacramento in 1960 so that Van could join a radiology practice associated with Sutter Hospital. Bo built a life for the family in Sacramento. Once her children were in school, Bo went back to work as a nurse in the Sacramento State University Health Center.
Music was an integral part of Bo’s life. She played the piano and her greatest pleasure was singing in choirs. Bo sang second soprano in the choir at Fremont Presbyterian Church for decades.
Fitness and exercise were daily habits for Bo long before athletic wear or running shoes were even invented. Back in the 60’s, her daily run, wearing the junior high school PE uniform and Keds, was an inspiration to her family, friends, and neighbors. She skied, played tennis, went on bicycle tours, power walked, and learned yoga when it was far from mainstream. Bo was still boogieboarding in Acapulco in her 80s.
Maintaining family unity was always her priority. She gathered her family of 16 for yearly family reunions, creating memories treasured by all. 
When in her 50’s, her family grew to include newly discovered sisters and their children. Mia Fliers, Jan Myers, and Ruth Phillips, welcomed her with open arms and gave her the extended family she had always craved.
Bo had eight grandchildren and was involved in the lives of every single one. She lived to see all eight graduate from college. Bo has eight great-grandchildren.
Bo is survived by:

Her son Paul and daughter-in-law Terrie (nee Smith) Kreis:
Granddaughter Lauren (nee Kreis) & husband Chris Keach, great-granddaughters Raegan & Jordyn Keach
Granddaughter Rachel Kreis

Her daughter Ann Kreis and son-in-law Juan Carlos Torres:
Granddaughter Elena Torres & husband Josh Posnick, great-grandchildren Sonia Posnick & Lucas Posnick
Granddaughter Emma Torres & husband Jack Butcher
Granddaughter Paloma Torres & husband Ross Wilson, great-grandson Fergus Wilson

Her son Don and daughter-in-law Rebecca “Becky” (nee Childs) Kreis:
Granddaughter Nicole (nee Kreis) & husband Grant Kendall
Granddaughter Bridget (nee Kreis) & husband Caleb Johnson, great-grandchildren Remington, Annie, & Wesley 
Grandson Steele Kreis