David Leo Boehnen

With great sadness, we announce the passing of David Leo Boehnen on January 27, 2023. Born on December 3, 1946 in Mitchell, South Dakota, David was the son of Lloyd L. Boehnen and Mary Elizabeth (Buche) Boehnen Roby.

David was a visionary leader and dedicated member of his community. A distinguished supermarket executive and lawyer, David earned a J.D. with honors from Cornell Law School and a B.A. degree from University of Notre Dame.

Admitted to the bar in Minnesota in 1971, David served as executive vice president of SUPERVALU from 1991 through 2011 overseeing legal, real estate, corporate development, and government affairs. Prior to his role at SUPERVALU, David was a partner at the Dorsey & Whitney law firm in Minneapolis. He was also a real estate investor, private equity investor, and was dedicated to unique startups.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, David was a connoisseur of the arts, was deeply passionate about theater, opera, and the orchestra and will be remembered for his many philanthropic endeavors. He served on the board of directors of the Minnesota Orchestra, the board of trustees of The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the board of trustees of The Guthrie Theater, the board of the University of St. Thomas Law School, and the advisory council of the University of Notre Dame’s Arts and Letters College, and was also a former member and chair of the Advisory Council of The Cornell Law School. 

David is survived by his wife, Shari, of 53 years, their children, Lesley Casillas (husband Julio and children Sofia and Alex), Michelle Negri (daughter Isabella) and Heather Meeker (husband Dave and children Charlie, Josephine and Sarah). David is also survived by his brother Daniel A. Boehnen of Chicago, and was predeceased by his fondly remembered sister ‘Vikki’ who passed away in June 2021.

David's family and friends will remember him as a brilliant and compassionate man, who had deep roots in Mitchell, South Dakota and lived part-time in Naples, Florida. The dedication he had for Notre Dame, his family, and his community will not be forgotten.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday May 12th at The Basilica Of St Mary in Minneapolis. 

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