Warren Ralph Bowman

Warren Ralph Bowman, the son of Ralph and Almyra (McLaughlin) Bowman, was born April 13, 1919, at his parents’ home in rural Greene County near Jefferson, Iowa and died May 15, 2018, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 99 years, 1 month, and 2 days.
Warren was baptized at the Christian Church in Coon Rapids, Iowa. He attended rural schools near Coon Rapids and later attended Coon Rapids Community Schools. Years later Warren graduated March Term 1957 from the Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa. Warren was employed by Garst Farms in Coon Rapids.
On July 31, 1941, he was united in marriage to Wilma Ditto at the Presbyterian Church in Maryville, Missouri. Warren worked for Sam Gardner east of Hamlin, Iowa where he handled his livestock. Warren and Wilma then farmed east of Audubon near Guthrie County then operated a farm near Gray, Iowa, where they grew row crops, milked cows, and raised livestock for many years. They moved into Audubon in 1958 and Warren worked as a welder and salesman for Emmert Manufacturing for over 20 years until he retired. During retirement he did carpentry work. Warren always had a large garden, enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Warren has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa since 1966. He served as a Deacon, was a Taxi Driver, and helped usher. He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge for over 20 years and held several of the offices. Warren and Wilma enjoyed traveling on many bus tours.
Preceding him in death was his son Vaughn Bowman; his parents; his sister and brother Helen and husband Earl McGuire, Fern and husband Gerald Raymond, Ruth and husband Ivan Herron, Caroline and husband Claire Olson, and Allen Bowman; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Gladys and husband Vivian Cretsinger, Wilbur Ditto, Glen Ditto, Hazel Ditto, Floyd and wife Doris Ditto; and his nieces Colleen Poole and Velma Hagman.
Survivors include his wife Wilma Bowman; his daughter Camilla and husband Howard Lawshe; his grandson Todd Lawshe all of Audubon, Iowa; step-son Wayne and wife Phyllis Freetly of Ankeny, Iowa and their family; his sister-in-law Lorraine Ditto of Manning, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kelley Pedersen on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. Honorary casket bearers will be Richard Cady, William Raymond, Kenny Hess, and Norman Cretsinger. The casket bearers will be Todd Lawshe, Leon Ditto, Robert Nissen, Tim Rohe, Mitchell Rohe, and Douglas Raymond. The family will meet with friends Saturday morning, May 19, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa.