Obituary of Robert P. Bowen

Robert P. Bowen (73) died April 29 2016 at LaCrosse Health and Rehab. Center in Coeur d’ Alene, ID. He was born August 31, 1942 to Raymond and Maxine (Phillips) Bowen in Wardner Idaho. Bob was raised in St. Maries Idaho and graduated from St. Maries High School with the Class of 1960. Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force following graduation. He met Debbie Baughman in 1961 on the air force base in Fort Campbell Kentucky. They dated for two and a half years and he proposed in a Laundromat on base. They got married at Clarksville Tennessee in 1963. Bob was discharged in 1964. Bob returned to St. Maries to work for Safeco insurance with his father in 1965. Bob and Debbie have been married for 53 years. For their 25th wedding anniversary, they renewed their vows in St. Maries and celebrated with a 7 day cruise to the Bahamas. Their children stood up with them at their renewal, with Bob Jr as best man and Kim as Maid of honor. He served 4 years in active US air force with an honorable discharge in 1964. He also served an additional 3 years in the reserve. He was an avid model rail roader with S gauge and HO gauge trains. He loved to fish and bird hunt with his son. He helped his daughter and son fix up their 1967 Mercury Cougars for their graduations. He and his wife were collectors of Lincoln Continentals. Bob retired from Safeco in 2014. Bob was a past President and long-time member of the St. Maries Kiwanis Club. He was a volunteer fire fighter for the St. Maries Volunteer Fire Dept. for over 40 years starting in1965. Bob served as Captain, Asst. Chief, and Chief for the department. Bob and Debbie were members of the Rusty Nuts car club, the Lincoln Continental Owners club, the Cascade Cougars club and the Inland Empire S Gauge Association. They traveled the Pacific Northwest and Canada for car shows. Stories: Bob Sr battled skunks on occasion, once with a croquet mallet and lost. He had a pet pheasant named Cheesy. Bob is survived by his wife, Debbie Bowen, son Robert Bowen Jr and his wife Lisa from Eureka Montana. And daughter Kimberly Hauck from Williston North Dakota. He is also survived by a brother Jim Bowen in Abilene TX. Has 2 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by both is parents. A memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Hodge Funeral Home with Floyd Turner officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery with military graveside rites by the U.S Air Force Honor Team and St. Maries American Legion Post # 25 conducting honors. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the St. Maries Fire Station.