BOWER, Birchard 1918-2010

BOWER, KLAR, HILL, BALSLEY, WOMACK

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/20/2010 at 14:44:08

Birchard Bower (Died May 18, 2010)

Birchard Bower, age 91, of Osage, died Tuesday, May 18, 2010, at the Osage Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Osage.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 21, 2010, at the United Church of Christ in Osage with Pastor Ruth Moerdyk officiating. Burial will be at the Osage Cemetery. Visitation is from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friday at the United Church of Christ in Osage.

Birchard was born July 14, 1918, near Mitchell, Iowa, the son of Robert and Tessie (Klar) Bower. He attended school in Mitchell and graduated from Mitchell Consolidated High School in 1936. On September 19, 1944, he married Ethel Womack. They adopted a son, James, and made their home on a farm near Osage. Ethel died in 1984.

Birchard married Sandra (Hill) Balsley on March 12, 1991. Birchard farmed his entire life. He received the Iowa Jaycees Outstanding Young Iowa Farmer Award in May of 1952. Birchard enjoyed sports and loved socializing with family and friends.

Birchard is survived by his wife, Sandra Bower of Osage; his sister, Harriet Heuer of St. Ansgar; six step-children and their families; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Ethel Bower; his son, James Bower; a brother, Keith Bower; and a sister, Kathleen Rowe.

Arrangements are by Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage (641) 732-3706.

[Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home obituary]