Jerry Jay Bower

He was born May 8, 1935 in Bridgewater, Iowa. He was one of eleven children belonging to Leroy and Alice (Mills) Bower. Jerry met Joan Duitsman at a bowling alley in Greenfield, Iowa and the two were married July 11, 1959. They had three children during their 62 years of marriage and his wife survives.

Jerry was raised on his family’s farm in Bridgewater. At 19 years old, after graduating from Bridgewater-Fontanelle High School, Jerry enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he honorably served until 1957. Jerry worked in construction for the first few years of his marriage to Joan, which moved his young family to Texas in the early 1960’s. He had a successful career in telecommunications for ConTel and then later GTE Telephone Company before retiring as the company transitioned to Verizon. Jerry was a member of the American Legion Post #554 in League City. Jerry will be remembered as hardworking, jack-of-all tradesman who had a passion for watching the Astros and collecting coins. Although he could be ornery, Jerry was quite a jokester and loved to laugh and make others smile.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Alice Bower, his sister Mary Jean Dennis, 3 brothers Bill Bower, Dean Bower and Don Bower and one grandson, Christopher Joseph Bower.

Jerry is survived by his wife Joan Bower, two sons Duane Herrick (Mary) of Pearland, and Jeff Bower (Kay) of Cleburne and daughter Carol Bower of Dickinson. Also carrying on his memory are 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 28, 2021 in Forest Park East Cemetery.