Helen Bowie

Helen Bowie, 93, of Oskaloosa passed away Friday afternoon, August 22, 2014, at the Oskaloosa Care Center. Helen Bowie, daughter of Michael and Julia (Rogan) Stoffa, was born, August 25, 1920, in Lovilia, IA. She was a 1938 graduate of Ottumwa High School and then furthered her education at a business school in Ottumwa. She began her career with Northwestern Bell in Ottumwa. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Bowie on September 23, 1945 in Ottumwa. Helen continued to work at Bell while she and Ken lived briefly in Chicago and then while Ken was attending Dental School at the University of Iowa. Following Ken’s graduation in 1950, the couple moved to Oskaloosa where Ken started working with his father and Helen stayed at home caring for their children. Helen served as office manager at the dental practice from the 1960’s through her retirement in 1992. Helen enjoyed knitting, golf, bridge, Hawkeye sports, reading and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s activities. She was the first woman in Oskaloosa to record a hole-in-one, which she accomplished on the old hole 3 at the former Elmhurst Country Club. Helen was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa for 64 years. She was on the new church building committee and the parsonage committee as well as being a member of the choir for 50 years. She was also a charter member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa. Helen’s family includes her daughter, Julie Bowie of Urbandale; two sons: Kenneth S. Bowie Jr. and Thomas J. (Madonna) Bowie DDS both of Oskaloosa; a granddaughter, Jessica (Gino) Scarpino and their son, Milo of Seattle, Washington; three grandsons: BJ (Carrie) Bowie and their children: Camryn and Gavin of Oskaloosa, Mathew Bowie of Seattle, Washington and Aaron Bowie of Oskaloosa; a sister, Louise Albone of Ottumwa; her husband’s sister, Eleanor (Bowie) Sanders and brother-in-law, Dr. David George and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth of 58 years, on November 12, 2003; two brothers and their spouses: Harold and Dorothy Stoffa and Floyd and Leota Stoffa; two sisters and their spouses: Ruth and Herbert Jannusch and Lucille and Howard Eskew; two infant sisters; two brothers-in-law: Fred Parcel and Norman Albone; her husband’s brother-in-law, Stephen Sanders and sister-in-law, Eileen (Bowie) George. Funeral services for Helen will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 27, 2014, at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa with Rev. Sam Beltz officiating. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be present from 5-7 p.m. to greet visitors. At 6:30 p.m., the evening of visitation, a group sharing time will start, all are welcome to stay and share stories and memories of Helen. Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church. Messages and condolences may be sent by visiting www.gvlfuneralchapel.com. PDF Printable Version

Helen Bowie

August 22, 2014 - August 22, 2014