Vern Bowen

Vern Junior Bowen died unexpectedly on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2014, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Vern was born October 26, 1938, in Saranac, Michigan, to Cordelia Mink and Vern Bowen, Sr. The elder Vern's service as a lighthouse keeper for the U.S. Coast Guard meant that the family spent summers in rugged, remote places around the Northern Great Lakes. Young Vern and his two half-sisters spent the school year living and attending school on the mainland. When the school year ended and the Great Lakes shipping season was well underway, Vern's family joined his father to spend the summer at whichever lighthouse he was assigned. As a youngster, Vern lived at Passage Island Light, 3 ½ miles off Isle Royale, New Presque Isle Lighthouse, on Lake Huron, and at Sault Ste. Marie. The Bowen family moved to Kalamazoo in 1951, where Vern attended Kalamazoo Central High School. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central in 1957. On October 5, 1957, Vern married his high school sweetheart, Fran Williams. Together Fran and Vern raised three children, two of whom survive. Spending his growing-up years in remote lighthouses instilled in Vern a deep love of the outdoors; he was an avid hunter and fisherman all his life, and liked to do anything that took him outdoors. Vern also loved shooting sports and was a long-time member of the Kalamazoo Rod & Gun Club, Gun River Gun Club, and Southwest Michigan Gun Club. He was an excellent shot who loved shooting Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays, and then rubbing your nose in it when he beat you, which was usual. Vern was a skilled amateur gunsmith, who enjoyed restoring old guns and "horse-trading" for the next project. In fact, Vern just enjoyed "horse-trading," period; he would dicker and bargain with anyone over anything. To Vern, haggling was an Olympic sport. Vern was a creative "Mr. Fixit" who could figure out how to repair almost anything a person can break or wear out. He was also a "people person," who could always find some common interest to talk about with complete strangers. If all else failed, he told a joke or two; Vern had an incredible memory for stories and his repertoire of jokes was endless. Above all else, Vern was a family man who loved his family unconditionally. He was enormously proud of his children and grandchildren in whatever they did, whether they came in first or last didn't matter. Vern thoroughly enjoyed having children around, no matter who they belonged, but his granddaughters made the light in his eyes even brighter. Vern was preceded in death by his parents, two half-sisters, Joanne Bowen and Anna Hoge, and his oldest son, Ronald Vern Bowen. He leaves behind and will be sorely missed by his wife, Fran; his daughter Rebecca Bowen and her partner, Kaye Smith, Poulsbo, Washington; his son and daughter-in-law Rick and Jenny Bowen, and two granddaughters, Maggie Jane Bowen and Nellie Jean Bowen all of Everett, Washington; cousins Donald Bowen, Plainwell, and Doris Harding, Saranac; sisters-in-law Marjorie Haas, Allegan, and Jane Castle, Kalamazoo; brother- and sister-in-law Jim and Elaine Williams, Parchment; along with many nephews and nieces. Cremation has taken place. The family will host a celebration of Vern's life Sunday, January 4, 2015, from 2pm to 6 pm, at the Comstock VFW hall, 5990 East Michigan Avenue, Comstock, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, the family invites friends to make a contribution to the charity of their choice in Vern's memory. The family deeply appreciates the skills, compassion, and support shown by the doctors, nurses, and staff at Borgess Medical Center Emergency Department, and the 8th floor Cardiac Unit and CICU. Thank you for all you did, you're the best.