Roger Joseph Bowen, 89, of Shelby, passed away Saturday, September 27, 2025. He was born July 22, 1936, in Grand Haven, the son of Willard and Helen (Smith) Bowen.
Who can forget being greeted with that ear-to-ear grin – the spark in those eyes — and for the men, a firm handshake and a “How ya’ doin’, fella?”
And always seeing him busy — even when there was nothing to do, the man did something anyway.
So it’s fitting that in the suggestions he made for his obituary, there’s a list titled “Some Things I Did.”
He hunted and fished, swam many lakes (Spring, White, Crystal, Torch and Geneva in Wisconsin), skied water and snow, tobogganed, kayaked and canoed and ran track in junior and senior high school (placed 2nd in State Finals Class A for the 800-yard run).
He power parachuted twice, spent two days on the Mississippi and seven on a cruise from Montreal to Boston, traveled England and Wales and Ireland, and straddled the border between Italy and France on Mont Blanc at 10,000 feet.
He hiked the Grand Canyon multiple times, usually with his brother Les and brother-in-law Joe, and followed the path the Klondike Gold Rush prospectors took, the Chilkoot Trail, between Alaska and British Columbia.
He built a drift boat, flew RC planes, and got a ham radio license. He made jewelry from rocks he’d tumbled and even made knives.
And the miles he and Sharon put on that trailer: every winter from Shelby to Quartzite; a 91-day trip to Alaska; and 30 days to Montana (with Henry and Judy).
It’s hard to imagine no more itineraries, no more adventures. But the man who never stopped moving found a way to continue his adventure: through those of his children, and theirs, and theirs.
At the end of visits to his house, he’d wave as we backed out his drive; we’d honk twice as we left and wave back.
As he waves goodbye today, we honk twice for the very last time.
For Roger (from Jon)
When he finally lost his get-up-and-go
The notion seemed remote.
Now he’s checking the paint
On St. Peter’s gate
And offering to give it a coat.
Roger is survived by: his children, Lisa (Bruce) Snider, Laurie (James) Newell, Nanette (Jon Snider) Bowen and Jennifer (George) Coulier; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister, Marsha (Joe) Lemieux; and brother, Les (Patricia) Bowen.
Roger was preceded in death by: his parents, Willard Lincoln Bowen and Helen Mae Turner; wife, Sharon; son, Brian; wife, Phyllis Schlee; and brother, Bruce.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 2380 W. Jackson Rd., Hart, Michigan 49420, with Father Phillip Sliwinski presiding. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the Church on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Interment to follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Shelby, Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to: The Nature Conservancy, ATTN: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203 USA, or preserve.nature.org.
Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is in charge of arrangements. harrisfhome.com
