Bubba Bryon James Dowling

Bubba Bryon James Dowling, age 46, passed away Friday, December 16, 2022 at the Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, KS. Bubba Bryon James Dowling was born June 3, 1976, to Dan Leroy and Martha Louise (King) Dowling in Mason City, IA. They moved to Austin, MN for a short while then to Ottumwa, IA in 1981 (Martha's hometown).
He spent the remainder of his adolescent years there participating in baseball, riding bikes, Boy Scouts, cheerleading, football, and summers swimming at the "Muni".
He attended Waldorf University majoring in football, meandered through a couple more community colleges before attaining his bachelor's degree in Human Services and Psychology from Buena Vista University.
Bubba met Heather the summer of 1995 and they married on October 18, 1997.
They began fostering children in the spring of 1998 which led to the adoption of their oldest daughter Anna.
To their marriage God blessed them with six living children and two children in heaven: Anna 1998, Nathan 2001, Luke 2004, Esther 2007, Miriam 2009, Johanna 2012.
Bubba's love of lifting began as a need. A need to care for his oldest daughter. That journey led to World Records in powerlifting and being recruited by Team Xtreme in the fall of 2004. From there his professional strongman career began followed by full-time missions.
He followed the call to preach the gospel, as he knew it, in eight countries. Sharing with people one on one as well as in groups ranging from 5 to 10,000. The whole family shared within the US and Canada.
Their family moved seven times following His voice and traveled full-time for six years being based in Lee Summit, MO. New avenues for ministry were opened with the Fatherhood Initiative in Kansas which led to a full-time job with DCF working with kids aging out of foster care. Bubba then connected with a ministry bridging the gap between the church and government to meet the physical needs of families. He was employed by them also.
Most recently Bubba served with the Smith County Kansas Sheriff's Office and Smith County Roads Department.
Bubba is survived by his wife, Heather; children, Anna, Nathan, Luke, Esther, Miriam, Johanna; brother Darin (Lora) Dowling; sister Danielle (Nicole) Dowling; brother-in-law Kevin (Chantel) Guiter; three nephews and five nieces; his Spiritual Dad, Mark (Kristie) Cobler; father-in-law and mother-in-law Larry and Sharon Guiter.
Bubba was preceded in death by two infant children Amaris and Cameron; his mom Martha Dowling; grandparents Phil and Betty Dowling and Bill and Irene King.
Bubba was funny, loving, loyal, generous, caring, fun loving, diligent, full of integrity, deeply in love with Heather, devoted to his children, and a wholehearted follower of Jesus. His wife and children are what he treasured most in life. He truly was a mountain of a man with a heart that loved fiercely with tenderness. If he loved you, he loved you to the best of his ability.
The story isn't over yet! Flip that switch!
Celebration of Life Services will be at 2:30 PM, Friday, December 23, 2022 at the New Covenant Church in Smith Center, KS.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be given to the Bubba Dowling Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of the mortuary.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Rentschler Family Mortuaries, Simmons-Rentschler Chapel, Smith Center, KS.
To leave an online condolence visit www.rfmortuaries.com