Karen Lee Bowman

Karen Lee Bowman, 79, passed away February 4, 2022 at her home in Lake Jackson, Texas. Karen had been living with metastasized breast cancer for several years.

Born February 19, 1942, Karen was the first child of Fred and Earlene Bender of Niles, Ohio. She grew up alongside her husband of 45 years, Joe Bowman, both graduating from McKinley High School and attending Youngstown State college. The two wed in 1960 and raised four children relocating from Ohio to Indiana to Arkansas before settling in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1980.

In each city where Karen lived and raised children, she actively engaged with her community through social support groups: creating a Welcome Wagon group for families who were also transferred by the company, coordinating Mother’s Day Out programs at church, and always volunteering with the local Methodist church and their ministries.

In 1986, Karen earned a degree in real estate management from Brazosport College and found great pride and satisfaction in shepherding people through the stressful process of relocating and buying a first home. In retirement, she continued this passion through volunteer work with Brazoria County Habitat for Humanity, whose mission to demonstrate God’s love through the dignity of a place to call home, embodied her own beliefs.

Over forty years in Lake Jackson, Karen maintained her deep involvement in the community: serving as a Trustee for the FUMC of Lake Jackson, holding multiple positions within the PEO of Lake Jackson, coordinating rides for elder care, participating in the Widows/Widower Group, and serving as a Stephen Minister. In her later years, Karen was most often found giving someone a ride to church or a doctor's appointment, playing bridge weekly across multiple bridge groups, talking on the phone with friends and family from across the country, and enjoying an afternoon nap with her beloved cat of 13 years.

Karen spent her last months in her beloved home of 40 years, under the care of both family and private caretakers. The family would like to express our sincerest gratitude to Help Inc., Vera, Elizabeth, Erika, Diane, Haleigh, and many others for the love and care shown to our mother. Because of your compassion, Karen was surrounded by friendly, familiar faces at her most vulnerable time.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband Joseph C. Bowman (2005), her parents Fred Bender (1967) and Earlene Bender (1997), and a sister, Janice, who died in infancy.

She is survived by her children Joe Bowman (Jamae), Cyndy Odenwald (Mitch), Rick Bowman, and Jennifer Machajewski (Jim), as well as her younger brother Glenn Bender (Linda). She also leaves behind beloved grandchildren: Jo-Beth Bjune (Matt), Jourdan O’Sullivan (Shane), Joseph Odenwald, Joshua Odenwald, Alyssa Machajewski, and Ayden Machajewski, as well as great-grandchildren: Meredith, Bridgette, Gabriel, and Sheridan. Karen was overjoyed to have the opportunity to meet her latest great-grandchild, Stori O’Sullivan, born in November 2021.

One of Karen’s favorite ways to show love and concern was to send greeting cards. She passed two weeks shy of her 80th birthday. In lieu of a public memorial service, flowers, or donations, the family asks for a written memory of Karen sent in a birthday card for her 80th Birthday. Mail cards to: Karen Bowman, P.O Box 1609 Lake Jackson, TX 77566. They will be shared with her family.

A private graveside service will be held on Wednesday, February 9th for family at Restwood Funeral Home & Memorial Park. In lieu of a public visitation, those who desire to express personal condolences will be received by some family at Karen’s home on Thursday, February 10th. In order to manage the number of visitors at a given time and to accommodate COVID protocols, please call 979-297-5922 to schedule an arrival time.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.restwoodfuneralhome.com for the Bowman family.