A Legacy of Family: How Boys Town Shaped Generations of the Wherry Family

For Joe Wherry II, the lessons that would define his life didn’t come from a single moment, they were woven into his childhood, modeled daily by a father whose own life had been transformed decades earlier at Boys Town.

“I learned at a young age how much Boys Town influenced my dad,” Joe II said. “And how important family was to both my mom and dad.”

That sense of family, hard-earned, deeply valued and intentionally passed down, became the foundation of the Wherry story.

Joe Wherry Sr.’s journey to Boys Town began with hardship. Growing up in Chicago, he and his siblings were separated at a young age due to their parents’ alcoholism. After his foster mother could no longer care for him, Joe Sr. and his brother, David, were brought to Boys Town through Catholic Charities. It was there, in a place built on stability and compassion, that Joe Sr. found something he had long been missing: a sense of belonging.

At Boys Town, Joe Sr. didn’t just find a home, he found direction. He and David graduated in 1966, stepping into adulthood with a renewed sense of purpose. Joe Sr. went on to serve in the U.S. Navy, carrying with him the values he had learned. But his connection to Boys Town never faded. In fact, it drew him back.

Years later, Joe Sr. and his wife, Marcia, returned to Boys Town, not as residents, but as Family-Teachers. Along with their young daughter, Rebecca, they opened their home and hearts to children who needed the same guidance and stability Joe Sr. had once received. It was more than a job; it was a calling rooted in gratitude.

For Joe II, those early years created lasting memories. Even after his family moved on from their role at Boys Town, the connection remained strong. He recalls alumni picnics, fireworks lighting up the Nebraska sky, and milestones celebrated on campus, including having his own children baptized at Dowd Chapel. Presiding over those baptisms was Father Val Peter, a man Joe II describes as a dear friend to the entire Wherry family. The relationships formed at Boys Town weren’t fleeting, they became lifelong bonds.

Life, however, was not without its challenges.

When Joe II was just 13 years old, his mother, Marcia, passed away. It was a devastating loss, one that could have fractured a family. But the foundation his parents had built, centered on love, resilience, and unity, held strong. Joe Sr., despite battling illness for much of his life and eventually becoming bedridden, remained a steady presence. He continued working in sales consulting and stayed deeply involved in causes he cared about, including supporting a group he dearly loved, the Boy Scouts, and their fundraising efforts. His determination and commitment left a lasting impression on his children.

“He was a great father and grandfather,” Joe II said.

Today, Joe II’s life reflects the values passed down to him.

A retired homicide investigator with the Omaha Police Department, he continues to serve his community part-time as an on-duty school resource officer for Omaha Police. He’s also an entrepreneur, owning the Mathnasium tutoring center in Elkhorn, an endeavor inspired by helping his youngest son overcome challenges in math, and co-running a local Junk King franchise with his brother Jacob. His sister, Rebecca, also carries forward the Boys Town legacy, having spent a year there and graduating from the school. Together, along with another brother, Joshua in Massachusetts, the siblings share a deep appreciation for the role Boys Town played in shaping their family.

“Boys Town definitely played a key role in my father’s life,” Joe II said. “And that was definitely passed down to me and my sister and brothers.”

At its heart, the Wherry family story is not just about overcoming adversity, it’s about what happens when someone is given the support to rebuild and then chooses to give that same support back to others.

For Joe Wherry Sr., Boys Town was a turning point. For his children and grandchildren, it became a legacy. And through generations, one message continues to echo clearly: Family is everything.