Maurice Dale Bowman's Obituary
Big Rapids - Maurice Dale "Butch" Bowman, 70, of Big Rapids, passed away on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at home while in hospice care, after a lengthy illness. He was born July 8, 1945 at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon, the son of Maurice D. and Violet L. (LaValley) Bowman. Butch was raised on a dairy farm in Big Rapids and attended Morley Stanwood Schools. After graduation in 1963, he went on to attend Ferris State College and graduated with a degree in electronics. In 1968, he began his career at Ferris as a Television Engineer while he pursued his master's degree. In 1984, Butch was hired at Central Michigan University as a Maintenance Supervisor for Public Broadcasting where he worked until he was forced to retire for health reasons in 2001. Butch was a Colfax Township board member and Treasurer for the NABET Union at CMU. He enjoyed spending time with his family. In spite his arthritis, Butch loved doing things with his hands such as woodworking, pottery and lapidary. He could fix any computer or television problem, and also enjoyed bowling, hunting and fishing. Butch was able to enjoy his retirement by spending winters in Arizona. In 1971, Butch married Janet L. Pettit, who survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Kimberly ( Mike) Bowen; 2 grandsons, Kyle and Evan Bowen who were the lights of his life; two brothers, Marvin (Irene) Bowman, Larry (Dianne) Bowman; one sister; Sally (Chuck) Wolverton; one brother-in-law, John (Mary) Pettit; 3 sisters-in-law, Joyce (Ben) Kinser, Sandra (Tom) Laus, Susan (Seldon) Ross; and many nieces and nephews. Butch was preceded in death by his parents. A memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m., today (Monday), December 21, 2015 at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids, with Pastor Mike Harrison-Haefner from Heartland Hospice officiating. Butch's family will greet friends at the funeral home beginning at 12:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice or the Arthritis Foundation, with envelopes available at the funeral home.
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