Grace Elaine Bowman

CROSS PLAINS- Grace Elaine Bowman, 87, died peacefully on April 2, 2016, from congestive heart failure, in the arms of her family at her home in Cross Plains, Wisconsin. Born February 4, 1929, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to George Henry and Rosella Dorothea (Knutson) Dixon, she grew up in La Crosse and attended Central high school, where she ranked fourth in her class overall, was in the honor club, and served on the student council. She played violin in the school orchestra, participated in the Girl Scouts, and for two semesters presided over the Girls' Athletic Association. Her senior year, students and faculty elected her to represent the school in the Daughters of the American Revolution good citizen contest in Washington, D.C. After graduation, she worked at Allis Chalmers entering data. She married Robert (Bob) Edward Bowman on October 27, 1950, in La Crosse. They used their honeymoon to tour college campuses, and chose to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where both graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1954 with degrees in chemistry. Grace worked as a chemist at McArdle Cancer Research Laboratory and at Wisconsin State Hygiene Lab before choosing to devote herself to raising her family. She kept her connection to UW, since Bob became a faculty member in its Psychology Department. In the early 1980s, her children grown, Grace worked as a chemist for Rayovac Corporation in Madison. Grace was an active person who loved the outdoors and her many hours gardening at her unique house in the country. She and Bob built the house themselves, around an indoor atrium, a project still in progress. Grace played volleyball at the YMCA throughout her adult life, and with her family took skiing vacations every year in Colorado. She loved baking treats, including Norwegian recipes passed down from her mother. Her sandbakkles at Christmas time were a family favorite. Her religious faith was a cornerstone of her being, and kept her a lifelong member of Grace Bible Church. Her parents died before her, as did her sister Jean (Merl) Berge, and her son Eric Alan Bowman. Surviving her are her husband; children Juli (Steve) Johnson, Thomas Bowman, and Madolyn (David) Rogers; grandson Lucian Rogers; nieces Debby Jarlsberg and Linda (Bob) Bennett; great-nephews Robby (Jessica) McCabe and Kurt (Emily) McCabe; great-niece Sheila (Adam) Haried; and her great-great-nieces Daisy and Celia McCabe. Her family would like to thank Agrace Hospice for their compassionate care in the last months of her life. Her mortal remains will rest in Sunset Memory Gardens, Madison. Memorials may be sent to Grace Bible Church in Sun Prairie, Agrace Hospice, or the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Care 7435 University Ave (608)831-6761