William Wesley Bowerman III
(November 21, 1940 - September 1, 2007)
 

William “Butch” Wesley Bowerman III, age 66, of 207 W. Chocolay Street, Munising, died unexpectedly of a heart attack while fishing in Canada on Saturday, September 1, 2007. He was born first of eleven children on November 21, 1940 in Munising to William “Bill” and Glenna (Depew) Bowerman. Butch graduated from Sacred Heart School and then Wm. G. Mather High School in 1958. On July 2, 1960, he married Barbara L. Lindquist. Butch worked at Kimberly Clark in the Specialties Department, Power House, and then retired as Fire Chief after over thirty seven years of employment at the mill. Butch was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Church. During his retirement, he and Barb enjoyed traveling. They enjoyed vacations across the continental U.S. and Alaska, Thailand, Jamaica, and most recently Costa Rica with their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. An average day in Butch’s retirement included a daily coffee klatsch at the Dogpatch and then a trip to the funeral home. He was available and willing to help at the funeral home whenever it was needed. Butch grew up working for his father at the funeral home, furniture store, and ambulance, and continued working for his brother up until the time of his death. He was a sales rep for Monumental Sales for many years out of the funeral home. Butch also served on the Munising Volunteer Fire Department from 1968 until 1987 when his first heart attack forced him to retire. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and deer camp. Butch was the “Camp Cook” at every hunting camp he was a part of. And could he cook!

Anyone that knew Butch would chuckle at the statement “he enjoyed taking trips to Canada.” He loved Canada and often joked that he was “going home.” For many years he has traveled there to his cabin to fish with family and friends. During his retirement he spent a minimum of one week per month up there. As unexpected and difficult that his death has been, everyone knows that he died the way he would have wanted – visiting with a friend, a good brandy (OK, maybe a few good brandies) , good food, the day fishing on the lake, and truly “Going Home” when the boat was tied on shore.

Butch is survived by his wife of over forty-seven years – Barb Bowerman of Munising; son and daughter-in-law – Dr. William W. Bowerman IV and Susan Marshall of Central, SC; daughters and son-in-law – Elizabeth “Beth” and Alan Girard of Norway and Bertina “Tina” Bowerman of Munising; grandchildren that he truly enjoyed and loved very much – Drew Bowerman, Meghan Bowerman, Mary Bowerman, Taylor Bowerman, John Bowerman, and Keegan Girard; siblings – Beezie (Bruce) MacNeil of Green Bay, Patty Ann (Bill) Nash of Munising, Dick (Mary) Bowerman of Wetmore, Katy (Len) Zelazoski of Kennesaw, GA, Bob (Lynne) Bowerman of Munising, Tom Bowerman of Lake City, FL, David Bowerman of Munising, Ken (Barbie) Bowerman of Munising, Jeff (Patty Jo) Bowerman of Waterford, MI, and Kim (Mike) Harris of Ishpeming; aunt – Louise (Neil) Griffith of Munising; uncle – Jack Geniesse of Beaver Dam, WI; sisters and brothers-in-law – Billie Lindquist of Munising, Gary (Virginia) Lindquist of Wakefield, and Jack Robinson of Naubinway; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Butch was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Glenna, numerous aunts and uncles,parents-in-law - Jennie and Bill Lindquist, and in-laws Carl Lindquist, Nancy (Jack) Robare, and Ed Tallman.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Wednesday evening from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m. A Parish Vigil service will be held at 7:00 and during that time, there will be an opportunity for family and friends to share a thought or story. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising and he will be escorted by his brothers, Dick, Bob, Tom, Dave, Ken, and Jeff.

Submitted by Char Livermore