Lakeland area grieves loss of Audrey and Greg Bohn

The Lakeland community is remembering the Hazelhurst couple killed in a three-vehicle car accident on Highway 51 July 12.

According to a press release issued by Oneida County Chief Deputy Teri Hook, witnesses reported that a northbound 2017 Toyota Camry, driven by Greg Bohn, 70, was  stopped in the lane of traffic, waiting to turn into a private drive when a second northbound vehicle, a 2023 International MV 607 truck owned by Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), driven by Brandon Boh, 23, Arbor Vitae, struck the Camry from behind, pushing it into the southbound lane. 

A third vehicle, a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Joseph Kopchinski, 85, of Hazelhurst and traveling southbound on Hwy. 51, struck the Bohn vehicle after it had been pushed into the other traffic lane by the WPS truck. 

Bohn and his wife, Audrey, 70, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Kopchinski was taken by ambulance to a nearby medical facility and Boh was treated at the scene for minor injuries. 

As news of the crash began to circulate, residents began to react. 

Erin Biertzer, president of the Howard Young Foundation (HYF), issued a statement to the foundation’s board members, members, and former associates and members,  

“It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of former HYF staff member Audrey Bohn and her husband Greg,” Biertzer said in the statement, explaining they were lost in the traffic accident and that Audrey Bohn had  just celebrated her 70th birthday on Wednesday, July 10. 

“Every year I write her a special message from HYF,” Biertzer said in the statement. “Audrey joined the Howard Young Foundation in 2009 after 13 years in accounting at Howard Young Medical Center. She brought so much passion into all that she did from her attention to detail, financial management, always greeting everyone with her smile, her positive attitude, and even being a dedicated dock volunteer event after retirement at the Minocqua Dragon Boat Festival. She was always the first person in the office every morning, making sure the coffee was made and everything was ready to go every day until she retired in 2020.”

Biertzer said Audrey Bohn was “truly a special part of our organization, and we are all shocked and saddened to have learned of her loss.”

“Audrey and Greg have three daughters who all grew up in our community – Lisa, Becca, and Crystal - and at the time she retired she had 10 grandchildren who she adored. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers,” she wrote. “If you would like to make a memorial tribute gift to HYF Greatest Needs fund in memory of Audrey and Greg, we will make sure to include all of her daughters for the acknowledgement. I will also work with our board to find the appropriate memorial for her and Greg for HYMC Wall of Honor as a tribute to them both, especially for her years of devoted service to our hospital, our community, and to the Howard Young Foundation.”

A long-time fishing guide, Greg Bohn was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2016. 

The well-deserved award was a highlight his career as a guide, tackle innovator and manufacturer, teacher, author and public speaker.

“I prayed a lot about my guiding career,” he said in a past interview with The Lakeland  Times. “And I’ve been so blessed. I’ve just been so blessed to be, I guess, in the right place at the right time with the right idea.”

In speaking to Bohn, it was always obvious his connections with his family were as strong as his faith. Both of those, together with his dedication and passion to the fishing industry, triangulated into an incredible career, observed outdoors reporter Beckie Gaskill.

He credited God, family and hard work as the things that pulled him through some of the most difficult times in the fishing industry throughout the years.

Bohn’s story was one of relationships and faith. His passing will leave a large hole in the fishing community. The story of his family, the love he shared with Audrey and their daughters is one to which all could aspire. His memory, and Audrey’s, will live on with the multitude of people they touched over the years.

Brian Jopek may be reached at [email protected]. Beckie Gaskill may be reached at [email protected].