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John Bowers
JOHN BOWERS
Sigourney
John Bowers, 63, of Sigourney, died Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at his home.
John was born Aug. 30, 1953, in Sigourney, to Kenneth and Freda (Williams) Bowers, and graduated from Sigourney High School in 1972. He served in the Army National Guard 224th Engineering Battalion from 1972 to 1978. On Dec. 9, 1972, John married Jerlyn McBeth at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sigourney. The couple lived in rural Sigourney before moving into town 40 years ago.
John had several jobs, including delivering milk for Aldrich Dairy, working for Wilford and Lyle Dumont, and building bins for Byers Construction and Rugg Construction. In 1982, he began working with John Hickenbottom, and in 1996, he bought what now is Hickenbottom and Bowers Construction.
John was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, fishing, collecting guns, knives and antiques, nature and changing the earth.
Survivors include his wife, Jerlyn; two daughters, Brandy Stangl and husband Andrew and Brooke Garringer; four grandchildren, Noel, Halle, Grace and Patrick John (P.J.), all of Sigourney; eight siblings, James Bowers of Kernersville, N.C., Mary Bowers Dill and husband Lynn of White City, Ore., Joe Bowers and wife Melissa of Sigourney, Tom Bowers of Sigourney, Roger Bowers of Largo, Fla., Brother Rodney Bowers SVD of Techny, Ill., Micheal Bowers and wife Michele of Des Moines and Donnie Bowers of Sigourney; several nieces and nephews; and many close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Helen (Mrs. Francis) Kerkove; and brother, Dean Bowers.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sigourney, with the Rev. Charles Fladung officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Sigourney. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sigourney, where there will be a wake service at 4 p.m.
A memorial fund has been established for St. Mary Catholic Church and Keokuk County Hospice.
Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Sigourney is caring for John and his family.
Tributes may be made at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.
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