Francis "Mike" Eugene "Mike" Bowerman

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Francis Eugene ("Mike") Bowerman, 87, of Traverse City, passed away Friday, April 6, 2012 at Munson Medical Center. Mike was born in Washington Township in 1924, the son of Frank and Rose (Miller) Bowerman. After graduating from Romeo High School, he enlisted in the Army to join the allies in WWII. He served his tour of duty in the Pacific as a B-29 Radio Operator with the 444th Bombardment Group, the first B-29 Superfortress group ever established. After the war, he enrolled at Michigan State University, enjoying success as a pole vaulter while earning a B.S., M.S., and teaching certificate. In 1946, he met Ruth Ann Sattler at MSU, and the two were wed the following year. After graduating, Mike left East Lansing with his wife to begin his career as a teacher and coach in Houghton Lake, where the young couple started to grow their family. Mike enjoyed a successful career as a teacher and athletic coach for two decades, leaving Redford Union High School in 1969 to enter the tool and die business with LaSalle Machine Tool and Acme Cleveland Corporation. In 1979, his family ventured up from Highland Township to Traverse City, where he would eventually retire. Mike was an avid fisherman, sportsman, and farmer who loved being out on the water as much as he enjoyed having his hands in the soil. Mike was preceded in death by his loving wife Ruth Ann on August 9, 2005. He is survived by his son Lawrence Bowerman of Mount.Morris, MI; daughter and son-in-law Susan (Bowerman) and Gregory Worsnick of Chaska, MN; daughter and son-in-law Mary Ann (Bowerman) and Mark Deschaine of Frankenmuth, MI; daughter and son-in-law Janet (Bowerman) and Keith Anderson of Oxford, MI; eleven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; and one sister. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at the Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home in Grayling, MI, with private visitation for immediate family members from 3-4 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 11 at St. Mary's Parish in Grayling, MI with Fr. Doherty officiating. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Francis "Mike" Eugene "Mike" Bowerman, please visit our flower store.