Hugh G. Bowman (1931-2020)

BOWMAN, GOETZINGER, WHITMORE

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/17/2020 at 14:21:22

Hugh G. Bowman, 89, of Maquoketa, Iowa, died on November 14, 2020 at the Jackson County Regional Health Center in Maquoketa. Cause of death was COVID-19 Pneumonia. A private funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at First Lutheran Church in Maquoketa. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa. The service will be streamed on the First Lutheran Church Facebook page. Future Plans to celebrate his life will take place after Covid-19 subsides.

Hugh was born on April 14, 1931 in Maquoketa, Iowa, the son of Francis and Florence (Goetz) Bowman. Hugh graduated from Maquoketa High School in 1950. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952-1954.

Hugh married Mary Lee Whitmore on May 4, 1952. Mary died of cancer on March 22, 2003, after 50 years of marriage.

Hugh’s business career started in 1959 when Dale Koon offered him a partnership in what became Koon & Bowman Standard and Robo-Wash. The station partnership continued until 1989 when Dale retired and sold his share to Hugh’s son, Bill. Hugh continued to work full-time at Bowman Oil Co. until his retirement at the age of 80, always fearing that once a man retires, his “body just starts falling apart and you die.”

After the loss of Mary, Hugh lived independently until the fall of 2019, when he moved to the Clover Ridge Care Center. He was fortunate to have several loving friends and companions in his retirement.

Hugh was a 70-year member of First Lutheran Church.

Hugh is survived by five sons and daughters-in- law: Michael and Deborah; Robert and Joanie; William and Barbara; Tod and Renee; and Kevin and Mary. His surviving grandchildren are Rebecca(Ondrej) Stonawski; Elizabeth(Cameron) Feist; Amanda(Simon) Porter; Kate (Michael) Meinecke, Jacob Bowman; Ara J. (Kristin) Bowman; Adam (Kristin) Bowman, Beau Bowman, Levi Bowman, Adeline Bowman, Lucas Bowman and Jack Bowman. He is survived by 14 great grandchildren, with one on deck and likely many more down the road. Hugh is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law Lois and Max Widner, and their family; Mary’s sisters, Erma “Corky”Bruhn, Betty Roster, Karen Opala, Rena (Archie) McGee and Denyce (Steve) Weimers; Mary’s brothers Richard (Sherrill) Whitmore and Steve Whitmore; and Mary’s brothers-in-law Bill McDonald, and Lyle Adrian.

Hugh was predeceased by his parents, his brother Don Bowman, sisters-in-law Kathy Adrian, Judy Cox, Joan McDonald, Donna Whitmore and Betty Whitmore and brothers-in-law Dwain “Curley” Bruhn, Jack Roster, Dennis Cox, Edward Whitmore, Gary Whitmore, and William Whitmore.

Although work always came first for Hugh, he learned to enjoy family sporting events, euchre games, the Cubs and touring with his 1951 Chevy.

In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund in the name of Hugh and Mary Bowman will be established.

The Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa is caring for the family and online condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.