Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Bower, John M. 1952 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net January 11, 2015, 12:51 pm Lake Odessa Wave, 1 May 1952 John M. Bower 101, oldest resident of the village, passed away at Pennock hospital, in Hastings Saturday night, a few hours after admittance. He had been ill with a cold several days previous which developed into pneumonia, but had been in very good health all winter. Mr. Bower would have celebrated his 102nd birthday June 16. He had lived most of his life in this area, moving from the farm in Woodland twp to the farm northwest of Lake Odessa. He built the house in 1900 on the farm now occupied by the Ralph Jordans. He moved to the village 35 years ago when he retired from farming. He was born in Thomasville, Ont. Canada and came with his parents to Michigan when four years of age. Traveling was done by team of horses and wagon. He has seen the village and community grow and also the many developments made. Mr. Bower was a member of the Evan. U.B. Church for 75 years, having been a faithful member and served on the board and offices for many years. He transferred his member ship from West Odessa after the present church was built. His first wife Rachel Lepard passed away October 1st 1932 after they had celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in February of the same year. He married Cora Monks in November 1933 and she passed away in May of 1948. He was living with his daughter Mrs. J. J. Griebel at the time of his death. Grandpa Bower, or Uncle John was well known and loved by many and will be greatly missed by all. He enjoyed reading and until recently was able to have a garden and flowers which he also enjoyed very much and spent much time listening to the radio. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. J. J. Griebel, Mrs. George Barker of Lake Odessa and Mrs. Arvilla Murty of Grand Rapids, one son Tello of Big Rapids, 16 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren. One son Merton preceded him in death seven years ago. Mr. Bower reposed at the Pickens Chapel until Tuesday noon then taken to the Evan. U.B. Church where funeral services were held at 2 p.m. with burial in Lakeside cemetery. Rev. Inez Martz assisted by the Reverends A. J. Pitman, Forrest E. Mohr, M. H. Dawson, and Rev. J. E. Barr of Kalamazoo. Mrs. Ford Curtis was the soloist and bearers were Lavon Bower, John Murty, Jerry Barker, Keith Baumgardner Jr., Robert Hancock and Maynard Bower. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/b/bower29443nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 2.9 Kb