Bowen, Robert W.

Robert W. Bowen, 87, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, Dec. 24, 2010, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Memorial services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Patricia Decker. The family will greet friends from 1 p.m. until service time at the funeral home on Saturday. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

    Survivors include his wife of nearly 68 years, Lorraine; two sons, Gary (Cathy) Bowen of Littleton, Colo., and Mike (Liz) Bowen of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Jan (Bob) Jacoby of Marengo; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Chalmer Bowen of Montrose, Colo.

 He was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters, Dixie Lee and Kathy Bowen-Miller; a granddaughter, Brandi Lee Bender; one sister; and two brothers.

 Robert was born Feb. 9, 1923, the son of Perman and Mattie (Taylor) Bowen, in Delta, Iowa. On Jan. 1, 1942, he was united in marriage to Lorraine Wyjack in Cedar Rapids. For 27½ years, Robert worked as a supervisor for Collins Radio, retiring in 1970. He then worked at Norand Corporation for 14 years as a supervisor, retiring in 1985.

 Robert was a manager of the Whities softball team where they were state champs in the 1950s. He enjoyed woodworking, tinkering with Shop Smith, bowling, fishing, and hunting. A baseball fan, especially of the Cubs, Robert also enjoyed playing board games. The love of his life was his cabin in Hackensack, Minn., where he vacationed for 42 years.

 Memorials may be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Cedar Rapids or Camp Courageous in memory of Robert.

 Please sign the online guest book for Robert at   under obituaries.