Jerry Edmond Bowker

1944 - 2025

Jerry Edmond Bowker

July 2, 1944 - September 2, 2025

Following a lengthly illness, Jerry Edmond Bowker, age 81, of Cornucopia, WI, quietly and gently died on September 2, 2025 at St. Mary's Hospital, Duluth MN with his wife by his side.

Jerry was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin on July 2, 1944 to Galen and Marian Bowker, the third of four sons. Raised on a small dairy farm which bordered the Wisconsin River in Marathon County, he was a child who wandered along the wooded riverbank, looking closely at all that grew there. This sanctuary was a favorite memory. Farm life developed his work ethic, and the woods, plant growth and water developed his spirit and direction in life. To "look closely" was characteristic throughout his life.

The first form this took was art. Jerry received a bachelor's degree in Art with a Botany minor from UW-Stevens Point. These two subjects became intertwined in his life. He went on to receive a MFA degree in Art (painting) from Northern Illinois Univ. in DeKalb, IL.

Jerry was married to Sarah "Sally" Swanson and the couple had a son, Jeffrey, who died in childhood. After his loss they turned closer to the natural world in their lifestyle and focus.

Jerry was an adjunct instructor at UW-Stout, Menomonie, WI. He liked teaching, but was also drawn to the landscaping being done on campus. Both honoring and enjoying physical work, he chose to become a gardener and landscape designer for the 120 acre campus. He went beyond first ideas to develop garden concepts that used elements of color, contrast, proportion and balance as one would in a painting. The gardens were enjoyed by university staff and students, Menomonie residents and visitors to campus. He presented winter slide lectures about the gardens and their care to university staff, gave tours to groups, and wrote articles for the Stout campus newsletter.

Another interest was being on the board of the Tainter/Menomin Lake Association, serving two years as president, and developing community activities to bring attention to the care of water resources. A favorite one was a water-focused film festival.

In retirement, Jerry and Sally moved north to the Lake Superior area where their woods were a soul home for him. Having the skills of a tree trimmer and arborist, he cared for the land as a steward and craftsman. His woodshed was admired for being always full of firewood kept in rotation. Another activity was volunteering for a number of years with the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to keep a lakeshore trail trimmed out.

Jerry also developed a passion for vegetable gardening and developed two gardens for heirloom vegetables. An apple orchard was planted and he carried out grafting experiments. Crops were prolific with plenty to give to neighbors, friends and the food pantry.

In his own understanding of what was important to him, Jerry once wrote he had "a need to contribute to a societal understanding of nature as the premise, body and soul of our existence". Every decision in his life was based on this understanding.

Jerry was a seeker, and his study of nature, art, the environment, philosophy, history and politics was brought into every aspect of his life. He read voraciously and widely, often reading books more than once. He felt that all he sought was found at home, on this land. And he knew how lucky he was.

Jerry is predeceased by his son, Jeffrey Paul, his parents, and brothers Richard "Ricardo" Bowker and Randal Bowker.

He is survived by Sally, his wife of 60 years, his brother Robert (Sandra) Bowker, sisters in-law Ann Bowker and Linda Bowker, brother-in-law Paul (Christine) Swanson, sister-in-law Christina "Tina" Mericle and nieces and nephews.

Jerry received wonderful care by medical teams over the past year. We are grateful to St. Luke's Clinic in Ashland and Hospital in Duluth, Mayo Clinic and Hospital in Rochester, Tamarack Health and Essentia Health in Ashland and St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth.

A memorial gathering/open-house will be held at the Cornucopia Coffee and Sweet Shoppe, on Sunday, October 12, from 1-4 pm.

If you would like to give a donation in Jerry's memory, please consider giving to a charity of your choice.