Roger Joseph Bowen

Roger Joseph Bowen, 89, of Shelby, passed away Saturday, September 27, 2025. He was born July 22, 1936 in Grand Haven, the son of Willard and Helen (Smith) Bowen.
Who can forget being greeted with that ear-to-ear grin–the spark in those eyes-and for the men, a firm handshake, and a "How ya' doin', fella?"

And always seeing him busy-even when there was nothing to do, the man did something anyway.

So it's fitting that in the suggestions he made for his obituary, there's a list titled "Some Things I Did".

He hunted and fished, swam many lakes (Spring, White, Crystal, Torch, Geneva in Wisconsin), skied water and snow, tobogganed, kayaked and canoed, ran track in junior and senior high school (placed 2nd in State Finals Class A for the 800 yard run).

He power parachuted twice, spent two days on the Mississippi, and seven on a cruise from Montreal to Boston, traveled England and Wales and Ireland, and straddled the border between Italy and France on Mont Blanc at ten thousand feet.

He hiked the Grand Canyon multiple times, usually with his brother Les and brother-in-law Joe, and followed the path the Klondike Gold Rush prospectors took, the Chilkoot trail, between Alaska and British Columbia

He built a drift boat, flew RC planes, got a Ham Radio License. Made jewelry from rocks he'd tumbled, and even made knives.

And the miles he and Sharon put on that trailer: every winter from Shelby to Quartzite; a 91 day trip to Alaska; 30 days to Montana (with Henry and Judy).

It's hard to imagine no more itineraries, no more adventures. But the man who never stopped moving found a way to continue his adventure: through those of his children, and theirs, and theirs.

At the end of visits to his house, he'd wave as we backed out his drive; we'd honk twice as we left, and wave back.

As he waves goodbye today, we honk twice for the very last time.

For Roger (from Jon)

When he finally lost his get-up-and-go
The notion seemed remote.
Now he's checking the paint
On St. Peter's gate
And offering to give it a coat.
Roger is survived by: his children, Lisa (Bruce) Snider, Laurie (James) Newell and Nanette (Jon Snider) Bowen, Jennifer (George) Coulier; many grandchildren and great-grand children; sister, Marsha (Joe) Lemieux; and brother, Les (Patricia) Bowen.

Roger was preceded in death by: his parents, Willard Lincoln Bowen and Helen Mae Turner; wife, Sharon; son, Brian; wife, Phyllis Schlee; brother, Bruce.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am, Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 2380 W. Jackson Road, Hart, Michigan 49420, with Father Phillip Sliwinski presiding. The family will receive friends from 10 am until the time of services at the Church on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Interment to follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Shelby, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to: The Nature Conservancy, ATTN: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203 USA, or preserve.nature.org.

Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is in charge of arrangements.

www.harrisfhome.com