Lavern R. Bowen

LaVern R. Bowen, age 75 of Lancaster, WI, passed away after a brief battle with cancer, Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at Grant Regional Health Center, Lancaster. He was born December 14, 1944 the son of Lawrence and Florence (Jerrett) Bowen. LaVern grew up in Mount Hope and graduated from West Grant High School in 1964. On June 4, 1966 he was united into marriage to Lois M. Kalinowski at the Mount Hope United Methodist Church. After their marriage, LaVern and Lois lived and worked in Madison. In 1967, LaVern was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was a field artillery crewman with the Battery C 1st Battalion 29th Artillery. Upon his return, he served stateside in Colorado. LaVern was employed at John Deere Dubuque Tractor works in Dubuque, Iowa for over 30 years. He was an avid sports fan, especially watching his grandchildren play any sport. LaVern loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing that included trips to Canada.
Surviving is his loving wife of 53 years, Lois; three sons: Dave (Amy), Steve (Melanie Hoffman), and Matt (Mike Tripalin) Bowen; three grandchildren: Dawson, Eden and Taylor "TJ"; two sisters: Karen Fadness and Rose (Rick) Gilbert; his in-laws: Ivanelle “June” Rice, Pauline (Wayne) Clark, Karla (Daniel) Meier, Joan (Jerry) Breuer, Loretta (Russell) Docken, Michael "Mick" (Carol) and James Kalinowski, and Curtis Witzel; and many nieces and nephews.
LaVern was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Florence, a nephew, Billy Fadness; a niece, Candy Mielke; brothers-in-law, Ronald Rice and Pete Fadness; a sister-in-law, Rose Ann Witzel, and a nephew, Richard Rice.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the Lancaster United Methodist Church with Pastor Mark Weaver officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Hermitage Cemetery, Mount Hope, WI. Friends and family may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Lancaster United Methodist Church, and on Saturday, March 7, 2020 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church. In lieu of plants, flowers and other gifts a LaVern R. Bowen Memorial Fund has been established. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Lancaster is assisting the family.