1942
Dennis
2011
Dennis Bowman
September 30, 1942 — June 21, 2011
Dennis Eugene Bowman was born September 30, 1942 in Parkers Prairie, MN, the third child of Sidney and Bertha (Wesley) Bowman. He grew up in the Parkers Prairie area and worked at farming, over-the-road trucking ( both for others and in his own business with his son), and camper trailer sales and retail sales in Detroit Lakes. He served with the U. S. military in the 1960's.
Dennis met Janet L. Hall in November, 1965 and they were married in Hastings, MN on June 24, 1967. They made their home in Detroit Lakes where a special treat for Janet was when he would amble into Central Market and join her for her break, enjoying a cup of one of their soups. Since the kidney transplant he continued to visit the nurses and patients at the dialysis unit and bring jokes and cartoons to share with them. Dennis had been directly involved with Boy Scout Troop 646 in the mid-1980's and became fast friends with the other scout leader and his family (Bud, Judi and Morrie Larson) as well as several of the participating scouting parents.
Dennis and Janet raised two children and purchased their home on the north side of Detroit Lakes on September 1, 1978. He enjoyed camping at Camp Wilderness Boy Scout Camp, deer hunting and ice fishing with his cousin, John Wesley and long time friend, Carl Oellien. More recently, he excelled at swapping stories and jokes with his special coffee friends at Cenex, Dino's and KT's as well as going to fish and smelt fries with Joe Heit. He also enjoyed four-wheeling until a mishap caused Janet and the children to sell it. None of his hobbies and/or career choices were completely accident free, having burned himself out of his tree stand in 2005. Anyone familiar with scouting knows what a Tote N Clip Card is. Dennis went through two of them! Despite all of this, he remained upbeat and loved to tell stories and jokes. Dennis had numerous "nicknames" affectionately given to him by friends and relatives. Among them were "the Curmudgeon", "Slice", "Sparky", and "Joan of Ark". He was recently elected to the Grace Lutheran Church Council, serving on the property management committee. One of his last duties was to attend a committee meeting on the morning of the day he suffered his stroke. Dennis was loved by many and will be missed by many more.
Survivors include his wife: Janet of Detroit Lakes; a son: Monte (Shelley) most recently of Killeen, TX; a daughter: Shanna Dee Bowman of Detroit Lakes; four granddaughters: Tiffany, Stephanie. Nicole and Natasha; a grandson: Steven; four sisters: Rhennea Johnson of Alexandria, MN, Carolyn (Billie) Moench of Sebeka, MN, Julie (Bob) Reemts of Henning, MN and Jeannie Beth (Carl) Miller of Bloomington, MN, Sisters and brothers-in-law on Janet's side as well as many nieces and nephews.. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Arvid and Lonnie, a sister: Maxine "Mouse" Hennings (whose husband, Gary was buried the day Dennis died). A favorite niece suffered the same type of catastrophic stroke this past January. Both she and Dennis were organ and tissue donors. Dennis was adamant that people become aware of the great need for these life saving gifts.
Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Service
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Dennis met Janet L. Hall in November, 1965 and they were married in Hastings, MN on June 24, 1967. They made their home in Detroit Lakes where a special treat for Janet was when he would amble into Central Market and join her for her break, enjoying a cup of one of their soups. Since the kidney transplant he continued to visit the nurses and patients at the dialysis unit and bring jokes and cartoons to share with them. Dennis had been directly involved with Boy Scout Troop 646 in the mid-1980's and became fast friends with the other scout leader and his family (Bud, Judi and Morrie Larson) as well as several of the participating scouting parents.
Dennis and Janet raised two children and purchased their home on the north side of Detroit Lakes on September 1, 1978. He enjoyed camping at Camp Wilderness Boy Scout Camp, deer hunting and ice fishing with his cousin, John Wesley and long time friend, Carl Oellien. More recently, he excelled at swapping stories and jokes with his special coffee friends at Cenex, Dino's and KT's as well as going to fish and smelt fries with Joe Heit. He also enjoyed four-wheeling until a mishap caused Janet and the children to sell it. None of his hobbies and/or career choices were completely accident free, having burned himself out of his tree stand in 2005. Anyone familiar with scouting knows what a Tote N Clip Card is. Dennis went through two of them! Despite all of this, he remained upbeat and loved to tell stories and jokes. Dennis had numerous "nicknames" affectionately given to him by friends and relatives. Among them were "the Curmudgeon", "Slice", "Sparky", and "Joan of Ark". He was recently elected to the Grace Lutheran Church Council, serving on the property management committee. One of his last duties was to attend a committee meeting on the morning of the day he suffered his stroke. Dennis was loved by many and will be missed by many more.
Survivors include his wife: Janet of Detroit Lakes; a son: Monte (Shelley) most recently of Killeen, TX; a daughter: Shanna Dee Bowman of Detroit Lakes; four granddaughters: Tiffany, Stephanie. Nicole and Natasha; a grandson: Steven; four sisters: Rhennea Johnson of Alexandria, MN, Carolyn (Billie) Moench of Sebeka, MN, Julie (Bob) Reemts of Henning, MN and Jeannie Beth (Carl) Miller of Bloomington, MN, Sisters and brothers-in-law on Janet's side as well as many nieces and nephews.. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Arvid and Lonnie, a sister: Maxine "Mouse" Hennings (whose husband, Gary was buried the day Dennis died). A favorite niece suffered the same type of catastrophic stroke this past January. Both she and Dennis were organ and tissue donors. Dennis was adamant that people become aware of the great need for these life saving gifts.
Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501
Previous Events
VisitationThursday, June 30, 2011
12:00 PM
Grace Lutheran Church
213 Roosevelt Ave
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Thursday, June 30, 2011
1:00 PM
Grace Lutheran Church
213 Roosevelt Ave
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
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