Jack C. Bowen

Jack C. Bowen, 74 of Kirksville passed away Tuesday (March 15, 2011) at his home.

The son of W.E. “Billie” and Velma (Summers) Bowen, he was born April 9, 1936 in LaPlata, MO. On July 13, 1958 in LaPlata, MO he was united in marriage to Melba Cokerham.

Jack is survived by his wife, Melba; two sons, Jon William Bowen and wife Tina of Kirksville and Ronald Curtis Bowen and wife Tamra of Springfield, MO; eight grandchildren, Matthew Bowen and wife Cynthia, Robby Bowen and wife Laura, Scott Bowen and wife Christine, Adam Bowen, Ryan Bowen and wife Cara, Ben Bowen, Annie Bowen and Krystena Bowen; three great grandchildren, Eva Bowen, Jack Bowen and Christian Bowen; one sister, Treva Kuhn of Oreana, IL; two nephews, Russell Kuhn and wife Diane and Mark Kuhn and wife Leanne; his mother-in-law, Ella Clem and husband Holland of LaPlata, MO; sister-in-law, Martha Bagley and brother-in-law, Danny Clem and wife Debbie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Jana Bowen and his father-in-law, Floyd Cokerham.

Jack received his public education in LaPlata and graduated from the LaPlata High School in 1954. He received his Bachelor in 1958 and Master in 1961 in Health and Physical Education from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University). He did additional graduate studies at the University of Missouri (Columbia) and the University of Illinois (Champaign). His teaching and coaching career started in Iowa where he taught in Pulaski Public Schools and also at Davis County Public Schools in Bloomfield. In 1966, he joined the Truman State University faculty. Throughout his 34 years at Truman he spent 18 years as the Director of Intramural Recreational Sports program for both men and women, taught in the Health & Exercise Science program with responsibility in the Education Division with Health & Exercise Science MAE interns, Field Experience supervisor of the students in Health & Exercise Science program, activities coordinator for Health & Lifetime Fitness classes, was director of Jr. High and High School girl’s basketball camps and was Assistant Coach for NMSU women’s softball. He retired from Truman in 2000.

Jack was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Optimist Club, Phi Delta Kappa, American & Missouri Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Missouri State High School Activities Association, National Intramural Recreation Sports Association, American Association of University Professors, Missouri State Teachers Association and NMSU Community Teachers Association. He was involved in the Missouri Special Olympics Project, American Heart Association, Boy Scouts, Triathon management team, Kirksville Schools Booster Club, and the Senate Bill 40 committee.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday (March 19, 2011) at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Richard Northcutt and Reverend Carrol Davenport officiating. Music will be provided by Julie Mikolajczak singing, “Amazing Grace” and “Wind Beneath My Wings” accompanied by Dianthe Cable. Burial will be in the LaPlata Cemetery in LaPlata, MO.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren. Honorary bearers will be Larry Boleach, Sam Nugent, Jerry Mayhew, Chris Lantz, Stoney Matteson, Ray Wilson, Keith Summers, Ed Bachman, Russ Kuhn and Mark Kuhn.

Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the

Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home
2100 E. Shepherd Ave.
Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233

Memorials are suggested to the Jack and Melba Bowen Scholarship at Truman, First United Methodist Church or Hospice of Northeast Missouri.