Bob Fowser

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Robert (Bob) Vernon Fowser was born in Pipestone, Minnesota to Vernon and Florine (Brandt) Fowser on August 25, 1939. When Bob was an infant, his father died and several years later his mother married Henry Stolk of Sherburn, Minnesota. He graduated from high school in 1957 and Iowa State University in 1961 with a degree in business. Bob passed away November 1, 2024, surrounded by family at Windsor Manor in Nevada, Iowa. The family will receive friends on Friday, November 8, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 516 Kellogg Avenue, Ames, Iowa, with a celebration of life starting at 11:00 a.m.
Bob met Karen on a blind date in Des Moines, Iowa. The couple married on September 4, 1960 in Laurens, Iowa. They moved to Quincy, Illinois so Bob could attend Gem City Business College where he took further education to become a watchmaker/jeweler. While living in Quincy, their daughter Amy was born. Following completion of this course of study, he served an apprenticeship at Hotopp Jewelers in LeMars, Iowa. In 1965, Bob and Karen moved to Laurens, Iowa and opened Fowser's Jewelry. They welcomed a son, Scott, while living in Laurens. In 1972 they bought an existing jewelry business in Forest City, Iowa which they operated until 1987. They then purchased DeJaynes Jewelry in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and were there until their retirement in 2001. Throughout this phase of their career, they were members of a large buying group which afforded them the opportunity to travel throughout the United States for conventions and to Belgium on diamond buying trips.
The first few years of their retirement were spent in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas which was a golfer's paradise. Throughout Bob's life, golf was more than just a sport. He shared many special moments with family and friends on a golf course. A humble man, he never was one to brag about his ability. However, among his achievements were a hole-in-one, scoring a 76 at the age of 78, and while playing with his grandson, they both eagled the same hole.
Family was very important to Bob, so in 2005, they moved back to Iowa, settling in Ames. Since his early days as a student at Iowa State, he was an avid Cyclone fan, remaining a season ticket holder in nearly every sport.
Bob is survived by his wife of 64 years, Karen, his daughter Amy (Rick) Grunhovd, son Scott (Mary) Fowser, grandchildren Alex Grunhovd, Molly (Travis) Burch, Ivy (Cole) Leitch and Madeline Fowser, and great-grandchildren Isla and Ava Leitch, and Emily and Connor Burch.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Ames, Iowa or the Alzheimer's Association in Bob's memory.