Meet the Robinsons? No, Meet the Boggesses!

Peace Mountain Ranch is excited to announce the addition of James (Jim) and Diane Boggess to our team. Both Jim and Diane grew up on farms in Iowa. They met in high school and have been married for over 37 years.

Let’s meet each one.

Diane has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Iowa State University, majoring in Finance. After working a variety of jobs including office assistant, retail, and warehousing, Diane spent several years as a stay-at-home mom while home-schooling their two children.

In late Spring of 1999, the family moved to Florida for Jim and Diane to work at Life for Youth Ranch (now Life for Youth Camp), a summer camp and retreat facility. For the next three summers, Diane oversaw the care and feeding of the animals in the petting zoo; taught Biblical lessons, with the animals as illustrations, to the campers; and supervised camp counselors. During the non-summer months at the facility, Diane continued to homeschool their children while working full-time on the facility grounds. She continued to care for the animals, helped maintain the facility cabins, and assisted in the dining facility when retreat guests were present.

When the family moved for Jim and Diane to begin seminary, the kids attended public school and enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Program in high school.  While attending seminary, Diane worked full-time at a medical clinic in the front office and business office. Upon graduation with a Master of Arts in Christian Ministries, she worked as an administrative assistant for an individual who raised funds for non-profit ministries.

When Jim returned to active duty on the AGR Program, Diane once again turned her attention to family – welcoming grandchildren. She was also involved with various ministries through the Chapel.

Upon Jim’s retirement, Diane has spent her time with various renovation and landscaping projects around their home. After reconnecting with Harvey Macklin and hearing the vision for Peace Mountain Ranch, Diane has joined the Peace Mountain Ranch team to help Veterans, current military, and their families. At Peace Mountain Ranch, Diane’s principal focus is production, administration, and support.

Jim is a 36-year Veteran of the US Army. He started out in the Iowa National Guard, serving six years in the Infantry while pursuing his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, majoring in Political Science and Economics. After graduation, Jim spent a few years as a Department of the Army civilian employee and traditional Guardsman rising to Staff Sergeant. During this time, he graduated from the Officer’s Candidate School (OCS) at the Iowa Military Academy. He accepted his commission as an Engineer Officer in the Iowa Army National Guard. After a few years, he went on Active Duty through the Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) program as an Environmental Officer and served in the Virgin Islands Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau, and the Massachusetts Army National Guard.  After six years in the AGR program, Jim left Active Duty and joined the Army Reserves in Florida.

While in Florida, Jim was the Adventure Camp Director at Life for Youth Ranch, a fancy title for leading small groups of junior high and high school-aged campers on adventures in eastern Florida, proving to another generation that one can exist without air conditioning in Florida during the summer! After three seasons at Life for Youth Ranch, Jim finally answered the call to the ministry and they moved to Springfield, Missouri to attend Seminary. Not intending on becoming a chaplain, Jim branch-transferred to Transportation and continued his service in the Army Reserve.

The attacks of 9/11 in 2001 happened less than a month after Jim started Seminary and a little over a year later, he deployed as the commander of a Movement Control Team with service in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan. After being home for less than a year, Jim deployed again, this time heading to Iraq as the commander of a Truck Company. Returning home from Iraq, Jim was at a loss as what to do since now all of his plans had been thrown off course and both kids were heading for college. While praying for guidance, Jim felt God tell him to return to seminary full-time. That fall he ran into retired Chaplain (Colonel) Scott McChyrstal who planted the seeds of Jim becoming a chaplain.

A short time later he received his ordination, graduated from Seminary, and headed to the Army Chaplain Basic Officer Leader Course. Immediately after graduation, he headed back to Afghanistan, serving as a battalion chaplain and chaplain of the Bagram Air Force Base mortuary affairs. Once Jim returned to Springfield, Missouri, he served as a chaplain at Saint John’s Hospital while obtaining four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). After completing his CPE, Jim was asked to return to Active Duty in the AGR program as a chaplain, serving until his retirement at the rank of Colonel. Jim’s time as a chaplain includes service as a Battalion Chaplain, Group Chaplain, three-star command staff Chaplain, Garrison Chaplain, and Command Chaplain of the U.S. Army Reserve Command. In addition to his bachelor’s degree, Jim holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. A graduate of the Army’s War College, he also holds a Master of Strategic Studies. Jim joins the leadership team at Peace Mountain Ranch as the Director of Development and Outreach.