Vera Maxine Bowman

Vera Bowman

Funeral Service

Sunday, May 13, 2007, 3:00 PM

at Ohde Funeral Home

Coon Rapids, Iowa

Rev. Lynn Gunderson, Officiating

from First United Methodist Church, Coon Rapids

Music

Amazing Grace? ~ Congregation

Precious Lord, Take My Hand? ~ Organ

Lula Garnes, Organist

Honorary Casket Bearers

Veras nieces and nephews

Interment

Union Township Cemetery

East of Coon Rapids, Iowa

    Vera Maxine, daughter of Howard Dale and Francena Pearl (Crippen) Smith, was born March 15, 1929, at home in Bagley, Iowa.  She attended school in Bagley. Growing up, Vera worked in her parents' greenhouse in Bagley.

   On June 30, 1948, Vera was united in marriage with Richard Charles Bowman in Coon Rapids, where they made their home. In addition to accompanying her truck driver husband on many trips, Vera worked at the family-owned Fairview Nursery in Coon Rapids, did seasonal work at Garst and Thomas, and then after her children were grown, Vera worked in in-home health care, caring for ill and elderly people so they could stay in their home. Vera was a dedicated homemaker and loved to bake, cook and host her extended family dinners. She loved spoiling her nieces and nephews, as well as the neighborhood children with her love and baked goods. Many hours were spent around the kitchen table "coffeeing it up" with her friends. As one of her hobbies, Vera enjoyed performing with the Kitchen Kluckers Band during the Coon Rapids Quasquicentennial. Over the years, she and Richard took many camping trips with family and friends. 

   After a long battle with heart disease, Vera died at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll, Iowa, on Wednesday morning, May 9, 2007, after a short stay there.  She was 78 years, 1 month and 24 days old.

   Vera is preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Francena Smith; husband, Dick Bowman in 1987; sister Ramona Headlee; brother Ronald Smith; sister-in-law Miriam Martin; brother-in-law Don Bowman; and parents-in-law Cliff and Iva Bowman.

   Vera is survived by her son Ronald Bowman of Coon Rapids; daughter Angela and husband Al Bristol of Phoenix, AZ; grandsons Charles Dean Bristol and Cody Allen Bristol; sister Terry and husband Jerry Clark of Bagley; sisters-in-law Lois Bowman of Coon Rapids and Marilyn Smith of Fremont, NE; brothers-in-law Bill Headlee of Guthrie Center and Mike Martin and wife Mary of Reedsburg, WI; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.