Obit: Bowen, Lester (1916 - 2007)

Contact:  Shari Hahn
Email: steppinwest@elknet.net 

Surnames: Bowen, Smith, Peissig, Myre, Meske, Leck, Moore

----Sources: Marshfield News-Herald, July 2, 2007)

Lester Bowen (Jan 8, 1916 - June 30, 2007)

Lester J. Bowen, 91, of Curtiss, died Saturday, June 30, 2007, at Saint Joseph's Hospital.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 6, at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Curtiss, Wis. Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery. The Rev. Kris Bjerke-Ulliman will officiate. Pallbearers will be Marvin Saari, Ron Frohling, Richard Lund, Aaron Sperduto, Jeff Bowen and John Wantlin.

Honorary pallbearers will be Richard and Audrey Decker, Duane Radsek, Carl Jakel, Marty Myre, Emil Untiedt, and Hilarion Michlig. Flower girls will be Linda Broeske, Barb Wachsmuth, Pattie Shook, Robin Espino and Sue Gray.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 5, at Maurina Funeral Home in Abbotsford and Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church. Maurina/Community Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Les was born Jan. 8, 1916, in Crawford County to Harlow and Ethel (Smith) BOwen, Wis. In 1919, the Bowen Family moved to a farm three and one half miles north of Curtiss, Wis.

Les and Hilda Peissig were married Sept. 19, 1949. She preceded him in death Nov. 14, 2006. In 1930, Les started to haul milk. He owned and operated Bowen Transit and Elevator Inc. and the Curtiss feed mill. He owned Bowen Hardware, Inc., was a dealer of Bou-Matic Milking Systems and also a dealer of Ski-Doo Snowmobiles. He owned Bowen Leasing, was the founder of The Olde Saloon Bar and Restaurant and the Curtiss Hotel and Bar.

Les belonged to and helped organize many organizations. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and served on the council, served on the village of Curtiss Board and was President and Trustee for numerous years. He helped organize and serve as president of the Curtiss Community Club, Tri-County Feed Dealers Association, served on the board of directors for Schuld Manufacturing of Mosinee, helped organize and was president for 10 years of the Boom-Town Snow-Chasers Inc. and was a charter member and served for five years for Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Council.

Les helped organize, was president and a lifetime member of the Lake Esadore Association. He was director for Right-Way Manufacturing of Owen, a board member of the Owen Watershed Association, member of the Clark County Tavern League and served on the board of directors since 1984 and now an honorary director. He was a Colby Lions Club Charter Member, Curtiss Lions Club Charter Member, received the Melvin Jones Award.

He was a member of the Tri-County Antique Auto Club, Pine Creek Riders, Rip-Riders Snowmobile Club, and was a lifetime member of the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in Eagle River. He was a member of the Black River Sportsmen's Club in Withee, and a director for the Clark County Economic Development Corp..

Les is survived by his children, Dennis (Patti) Bowen of Wausau and Idelle Myre of Owen; his special friend and companion Lila Meske of Curtiss; seven grandchildren, Jeff, Jody, Paige, Tana, Marty, Traci and Toni; 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by one brother, Robert (Sherin) Bowen of Stevens Point and one sister, Loretta Leck of Vanderbuilt, Penn.

He was preceded in death by his wife Hilda, one son Dale, his brothers Donald, Millard and Floyd; one sister Velma Moore and one granddaughter Dawn.

A memorial will be established at a later date.