Bowen, James Charles

James Charles Bowen, 66, of Turlock, Calif., formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. Graveside services will be held at Cedar Memorial Cemetery on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 1:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.

Jim was born and raised in Cedar Rapids. He attended Taylor Elementary School, Wilson Junior High School, and graduated from Jefferson High School, where he was Student Council President. He played football and basketball, but his true love was baseball. His baseball career carried through from playing for Bob Lana's Dairy Queen team to being a team member of the 1961 Jefferson state baseball championship team, of which he was inducted into Jefferson J-Hawks'Baseball Hall of Fame. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Northern Iowa where he played basketball his first year and baseball all four years.

Jim married the love of his life, Cheryl, in 1965. His first teaching job was with Lisbon Community Schools where he coached basketball and baseball and taught Physical Education and English from 1965 to 1966. From 1966 to 1969, Jim taught Physical Education and Health; was Department Chairman of Health, Physical Education and Athletics; and coached basketball and baseball at Wilson Junior High, where he enjoyed coaching football with his brother, Larry. He received his Doctorate from the University of Iowa where he was fortunate to be an assistant baseball coach and an instructor in the Physical Education Skills Department.

1970 brought the Bowen family to Turlock, Calif, where Jim was hired as a professor, baseball coach and later Chair of the Department of Physical Education, interim Athletic Director and Speaker of the School of Education Faculty for California State University, Stanislaus, until his retirement in 2006. He had numerous publications, was Director of the Northern California Baseball Coaches CSUS Baseball Clinic, conducted Pee Wee baseball clinics and summer baseball camps for area youth, originated Masters of Art Education at Stanislaus, began the annual P.E. Students' Olympics and started a CSUS baseball athlete reading program with area elementary schools. Two NCAA Division III National Baseball titles (1976 & 1977) were achieved during his college coaching career. He was proud to be known as “coach” to hundreds of college men, coaching baseball at Stanislaus for 25 years and the Pre-Pan American games in both Caracas, Venezuela, and Seoul, Korea. Coach Bowen was inducted into the National Baseball Coaches' Hall of Fame in 2000, the Warrior Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and the University of Northern Iowa Hall of Excellence in 2006. Stanislaus retired his No. 20 jersey in 2005.

Jim was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Turlock, in which he was very involved with both the church (serving on the Church Council prior at Nazareth Lutheran Church) and his community (serving on the Turlock Elementary School Board). He enjoyed spending time in the Sierras, especially Pinecrest Lake, fishing and camping and, also, loved woodworking. Most important in his life was God, his family, our country, baseball and the importance of education. He is survived by his loving wife. Cheryl; children, Michelle Bowen, Steve (Karen) Bowen, Kim (Kyle) Bowen Souza; mother, Frances Bowen; siblings, Larry (Carol) Bowen, Judy (Mike) Chadek, Joni (Steve) Smith; grandchildren, Kortne and Bryse Rochester and Jacob and Rebecca Bowen.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, W. T. Bowen.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Emanuel, P.O. Box 819005, Turlock, CA 95382, or the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.