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Obituary: Remembered with joy, Kathy Bowman, 72, of Powell, Ohio, took her final breaths amongst family on 11 July 2024. Kathy was born in Elmhurst, Illinois to parents Mary and Robert Braun on 14 November 1951. She grew up in Bensenville, Illinois with her two sisters, Bobbie and Lois, and her brother Wayne. She graduated from Fenton High School where she held the principal spot as the first chair flutist for her high school band traveling to Europe to tour. Later, Kathy received her associate degree from Elmhurst College. As a military spouse, Kathy continued traveling the world, immersing herself in several different cultures, learning to play yet another instrument, the dulcimer, and where she developed a passion for foreign cuisine. She would make homemade pierogies, spanakopita, brisket, key lime pie, and waffles discovering that she had a passion for baking. This led to her enrolling in master baker courses where service members and church families alike would request her baking creations. Her faith played a major role in all aspects of her life and providing baking and cooking lessons to immigrant families in her congregation and community was just one way she liked to connect and give back. Kathy and her late husband Clyde were one of the lucky few to have had the distinct privilege of being married for 52 years before his passing. This deep love of one another ingrained a profound sense of loyalty and pride in family which, both blood relations and chosen family members alike, will cherish for years to come. Never one to miss an opportunity to interject a witty retort or a reply with her standard response of “peachy” when asked how she was, Kathy’s smile, which could light up a room, will be immeasurably missed and forever remembered. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Kurt and Wendy Bowman, daughter Courtney Bowman, and grandchildren, Gavin and Harrison Bowman.

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I met Boe in high school.  We spent many summer nights cruising in his ford mustang convertible.  I remember Bocek getting that car airborne crossing the tracks by Veteran’s park to escape an attack in the year of the great egg wars.    

 

In the winter we plowed parking lots and friends driveways with his willies Jeep.  Pete’s on Irving was one of our clients.  We never charged him so we ate for free and somehow there was always a gallon of red wine by the back door. 

 

Bocek was always a really great guy to be around.  He had a wide variety of friends and seemed comfortable in any circle. 

 

He was a regular in the Tortilla Flats crowd, fishing, swimming and getting drunk in the Kankakee strip mines. 

 

When the bad guys in town were going to bust some heads at a summer dance in Elk Grove.  We all went along in a show of support and curiosity.  Our battle dress of flip flops, shorts and t-shirts definitely showed us to not be the serious fighters.  But, the Elk Grove Police set a trap.  Boe was one of about 30 guys who got busted that night for ‘mob action.’   

 

But that’s the kind of guy he was, friends with everyone, and always ready for a good time.

Beautiful smile - beautiful person. That is how I will always remember you. 

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MaryAnn and I were friends in grade school, high school and beyond.  She was a sweet, good hearted person.  Oe of the first to give the nuns a hard time and get the rest of us to go right along with her - all in food fun.  She would ask them if the really had legs and to prove it and the same with their hair.  She could make anyone laugh no matter their mood.  She is missed by many.

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I met Dennis before school started freshman year.  I was less than 95 lbs and he was by comparison a giant.  It was a bit intimidating.  Not only was I probably the smallest guy but I didn't know anyone.  Dennis was sitting on a bench in the locker room bantering with all the big guys.  He stopped when he saw me and said "You going out for football?" Like he was processing the visual.  "Well alright" he said. I liked him.  A friendly giant is a good thing when your small.   He was always friendly throughout HS.
After graduation he was one of the first guys to fully explore the realms of mind expansion.  We ran in similar circles in Bensenville.  Kickapoo Creek Rock Festival was a party we all went to.  Dennis was always fun loving, friendly, accepting and fully self expressed.         
    

Love you man.We spent so many crazy times together. I can still hear your laugh...

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We became good friends in HS.   George was a weight lifter and had a big chest and arms.  He also could belly dance – which no one else could do.

 

His dad was this gravely-voiced construction guy who everyone feared.  And, he wasn’t shy about tending to George in front of his friends. In the fall season of the great egg wars, George’s house was pumpkin-ed.  The wrath of his  dad was largely responsible for the end of the egg wars.

 

After HS George went on to building houses with his dad.  I worked roofing and did some work for them from time to time.  His dad mellowed and even became friendly.

 

George worked hard and played hard.

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I spent a lot of time with George after high school.  He had a semester in college where Andy Krause and I were in the same dorm.  John Reifsnyder Huff had an appartment with George.  Years later, not using my college diploma, I worked as a carpenter and electrician with George and his father building single family houses and remodeling jobs.  He lived with an intensity that excited the people around him.  He may have pushed himself a little too fast to the finish line.   Curt

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After 50 years, I don't remember much but I do remember you writing a very special entry in my yearbook.  It touched my heart and always stayed with me.  When I heard of your passing, it sadden me deeply and despite our never having a lifelong friendship, I couldn't help but feel the world was missing someone extraordinary.  As I remember it, you were quite profound and were able to describe life in succint terms.  I searched authors of the 60's and came across S. E. Hinton who wrote, The Outsiders.  Ironically, so much like you George!  You left the earth much too soon.  You are missed.
With Love,
Carol

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     Scott and I were best friends for a fewy years.  He was really into fishing and talked me into going on a Fenton HS affilliated gfishing trip to Black Bear lodge in Canada.  Scott, Mike Defranzo and I were assigned a boat to share.  We had a blast and caused the teacher/shaperone/drivers a lot of headaches. 
     On many occasions a group of us would take a day off from school, pile into Scott's car and go fishing at the strip mines near Kankakee.  On day it was raining when we got there.  The roads / trails back into the mine areas were all flooded and muddy.  But for a car load of guys it was a scrambling adventure.  By the end of the day we were all covered in mud.  That's when Scott missed the ramp for rt 66 and we ended up going off the side of the ramp.  The sate police got many different stories about how we got so muddy.   
   Scott & I worked together at Alexian Bros Med Center.  We were both fired the same day for having a food fight in the dishroom.
   Scott was a hockey player and we did the park district teams together then went on to adult leagues with Jim Skersky, Joe Iacano and many others.  Scott was still playing decades after the rest of us quit.  I heard on the day Scott received his cancer diagnosis  he went from the doctor's office to play hockey.   
    Scott & I dated some of the same girls, Expanded our minds (Kickapoo Creak Rock fest and other such events), continued fishing together ( I was there the day he caught 5 muskies in one day!), and even rented a house together in Bloomingdale, IL.. 
     Scott was a custom home builder and went from rich to poor and back to rich again many times.   He wasn't afraid of risks and lived every day with a sense of zest and adventure.   

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Dearest Claudia
Your song still lingers - you are not forgotten. 

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Our dear friend, Claudia, left us too soon on August 18^th, 2008, after a hard fought battle with a brain tumor. She left behind her loving husband, “Bud”, two wonderful sons, two grandchildren, her sister Cathy and brother Nick.

It was shocking and sad for her friends to lose someone so full of love for life. We were at that point in our lives when our work and family obligations were more under control so we could free up time to schedule regular gatherings with our high school friends. We treasured our times together. Losing our “Songbird” (her email handle) left a huge hole in our hearts as we struggled to accept her premature passing.

 I am sure most everyone remembers Claudia's sweet, melodic singing voice, her million dollar smile, her keen sense of humor, and her loving ways. I remember how physically beautiful she was and I couldn’t help but remark each time I saw her that she never seem to age! Fortunately for those who knew her, she was just as beautiful inside. Forever missing our "Songbird", Claudia.

Go on with your song, bird, you can't go wrong bird
You will go on and on, bird, like you did before
Though your wings are broken the sky is so wide open
And the wind is waiting for you like an open door

Though you go so far away, your voice will still be heard so well
You'll never really ever know how beautiful you are
When the moon is on the rise I'll try to make my songbird fly
I wonder if he ever will, and if he really did, how far

Go on with your song, bird, you can't go wrong bird
You will go on and on, bird, like you did before
Though your wings are broken the sky is so wide open
And the wind is waiting for you like an open door

Though you go so far away, your voice will still be heard so well
You'll never really ever know how beautiful you are
When the moon is on the rise I'll try to make my songbird fly
I wonder if he ever will, and if he really did, how far

Go on with your song, bird, you can't go wrong bird
You will go on and on, bird, through the open door

Go on with your song, bird, you can't go wrong my bird
You will go on and on, bird, like you did before

"Songbird" as written by Robin Hugh Gibb and Maurice Ernest Gibb (The Bee Gees)

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Fun times as college roomies at NIU. Miss you!

High school had specific goals from the educators and comunity. Then between those we had the practical issues of eating lunch and getting to class.  As a not very connected person every semester with a new schedule meant finding a table for lunch. Senior year I found the table full of those left out of other groups. Stan was one of the table regulars and we spent many lunchs together.  We drifted apart when high school ended..

Stan had some challenges after high school. We all made some mistakes and a few of his kicked his butt. Thanks for sharing those lunches Stan.  

Love you,Dick. We could make each other laugh for hours on end. I will never forget you.

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Dick has a character.  for a while he worked in a carnival running the Carlie Brown Basketball.  He and his wife Vivian came to a picnic and his eight year old son and ten year old daughter showed us how to tap the beer keg.  Years later they moved to Las Vegas.  So long Dickie.   Curt

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Such a little guy with an enormous heart!

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My Prom date Junior year.  I will never forget that smile. 

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If I close my eyes, I can still hear your belly laugh.  Your mom gave me my first job at the eye doctor in town.  (I think she felt sorry for me because the rest of my friends were working at Beeline or Plentywood!) My favorite memory of you was when you were standing in the middle of Janice’s driveway, making out with Margo (the love of your life), while the rest of the group was trying to organize a drive down to the city. You were absolutely smitten and totally oblivious to what was going on.  We laughed our asses off!  Such a special guy with a huge heart.

I remember Chris as a quiet guy in grade school.  Didn't see each other much when we got to Fenton, but to our surprise, our families ended up living on the same street in Addison for a while.

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The first thing I think of when I remember Barney is him playing his drums along to "Crystal Blue Persuasion" in his basement.  He loved music. Everytime you were at his house you wound up in his basement listening to him.  Every time I hear that song I think of him and have to smile.  His sense of humor was very infectious.