John M Bowen

John Mackey Bowen, the son of Robert E. and Helen (Green) Bowen was born on September 27, 1944, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Mankato, MN where he graduated from high school. In 1967, John earned his Bachelor’s in Education from Mankato State University, MN. He then accepted a teaching position in the Milwaukee Public Schools at South Division High School and began his coaching career in Cross Country and Track and Field. After earning his Master’s Degree at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, John became a guidance counselor at South Division High School and completed his Milwaukee Public Schools career in Steuben Middle School.

John loved being an educator and often said the proudest and happiest moments of his career were seeing students set goals, work to achieve them, and enjoy their successes. Throughout his career, John found ways to motivate students. In the early years of teaching science to students who had little motivation, he established “Feed the Animals Day.” His students more readily tended to their homework and loved helping with classroom tasks. John also knew that positive and specific feedback was a key to self-improvement. While coaching he instituted “Medal Time” for all participants. After reaching each personal improvement goal, participants received a medal.

As a school counselor, John guided students to do their best in classes and in all aspects of their lives. He worked with other counselors to offer student support groups to address a variety of student needs. It was in this format he helped many students deal with the death and loss of loved ones. Managing these types of personal challenges helped students find more success in and out of school.

John retired from the Milwaukee Public Schools in 2000. For another ten years he and his wife, Kitty, organized conferences, seminars, and graduate courses for Wisconsin educators which focused on motivational and instructional ideas and strategies to help reach and teach youth. John was a true mentor to many young teachers and educators.

On August 19, 2023, John was honored by former students and athletes during a special event at South Division High School. He was led onto the stage not knowing the ceremony was actually to honor him. John loved sharing stories with friends and family—and recently he liked to share this story of the surprising ceremony which meant so much to him.

John’s other lifelong love was travel. For fifty-one years he and his beloved wife, Kitty, took extended trips to England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and other European countries. They made countless enduring memories and friends along the way. John spent the last three and a half weeks of his life in Antibes, France seeing longtime friends and celebrating his 80th birthday.

On the day before returning to Wisconsin, he took an unfortunate fall and was hospitalized in Nice, France. Over the course of eight days and after having many conversations and visits by dear friends John went into a coma and died peacefully on October 14, 2024, with his wife by his side.

John will be remembered as a scholar, mentor, coach, and friend. He shared his good humor and reached out to others with a caring heart (and sometimes a “fish” handshake). He treasured his wife, his U.S. and European families, and his many friendships over the years. He did his best to help others find success and fulfillment in their lives. Please honor John by taking good care of yourself and helping others to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

John is survived by his wife, Kathryn Bowen; his sister, Nancy (Curt) Hanssen; brother-in-law, Craig Lucas; sisters-in-law, Alice Wilson Pratt; Sue (Keith) McFarland; and Chris (Dale) Martin; twelve nieces and nephews,15 great nieces and nephews, 3 great-grand niece and nephews, and many students and athletes who were like family to him.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Robert E. and Helen (Green) Bowen; his brother, Robert Bowen; and his sister, Mary Woodruff; his parents-in-law, John and Mary Dewey; brother-in-law, Phil Dewey, sister-in-law, Jean Lucas and brother-in-law, Ron Pratt.

Funeral Services for John were held in Nice, France on October 18, 2024. His burial will take place at a future date in Toulon, Illinois.

A Memorial Visitation will be held at the Max Sass Funeral Home Mission Hills Chapel (8910 W. Drexel Ave. Franklin, WI on Saturday, November 23rd from 1-3:30 Pm.

A final memorial service will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Haskell Funeral and Cremation Services (101 S. Galena Ave. Wyoming, IL) at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Toulon Cemetery. To leave condolences for John’s family please visit www.haskellfuneral.com