Ronald "Ron" Hugh Bowen

Ron was born Oct 18,1935 in Whittemore, MI to Leonard and Vivian (Hollister) Bowen. He passed peacefully at home in Traverse City, MI on Oct 16, 2022 with family by his side.

Ron grew up in Bay City, MI and fell in love with nature, hunting, and fishing during his early years. He also spent innumerable hours on the family land in Twining and Whittemore, MI where he enjoyed the freedom of the outdoors. After high school graduation, Ron served in the Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed on the island of Guam. After serving his country, he then moved to civilian life where he received a degree in chemistry, worked at the Bay City Water Treatment Plant, and married the mother of his three children, Phyllis (Ulrich) Petsch. Ron moved his family to Traverse City to become Superintendent of the TC Water Treatment Plant in1968. While working, he received a second degree from Ferris State College in Business Management, but always found time to enjoy the beauty of the area around his busy schedule. As the needs of Traverse City expanded, he then became the Director of Public Utilities when the water and sewage plants merged and oversaw the expansion of the sewage plant on Boardman Lake. He retired from the city in 1990.

Ron was an excellent artist of scenery and wildlife and many people enjoy his artwork still today. He split his retirement time between his homes in Kalkaska, MI and Apache Junction, AZ. He loved reading, tennis, camping, hunting and fishing, hiking, biking, boating, kayaking, and exploring the US. He met his long time friend and companion, Ellen Wallis, in 2004 and they spent so many wonderful years exploring the country together and were known for the friends they made and variety of adventures.

Ron is proceeded in death by his parents, Leonard and Vivian Bowen, and his sole sibling, Guelda Jones. He is survived by his children, Joel Bowen, Sonjia (Kevin) Chouinard, and Kevin (Kathy) Bowen and his grandchildren Brian (Ashley) Bowen, Adrian (Tommy) Neal, Nathan (Annah) Chouinard, Amy (Danny Sexton) Chouinard, Renee (Marc Hurst) Chouinard, and Heather Nice. He has eight great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Conservation Resource Alliance or Heartland Promedica Hospice.

A memorial service along with military honors will be held for Ron at 11am on Monday, October 31, 2022 at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home with a visitation beginning at 10am. Kindly share thoughts and memories with his family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .