Melvin Charles Bowler

Melvin Charles Bowler
(1924 – 2015)
Des Moines, Iowa
Mel Bowler, 91, passed away peacefully Thursday, February 26, 2015, at Trinity Center in Luther Park after complications from leg surgery and kidney failure.
Mel was born January 11, 1924 in Des Moines, Iowa to William Raymond and Agnes (Jacobsen) Bowler. Mel spent five years of his early childhood in Brooklyn, New York and returned to Des Moines soon after with family. Mel attended North High School and enlisted with the Navy in 1942. Mel was a World War II Veteran of Foreign Wars and proudly served aboard various U.S. ships. He was Seaman 2nd Class in the 22nd Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) in 1943 at Attu and Kiska Islands in the North Pacific Sea, and later, Seaman 1st Class in the 26th Battalion. Upon returning home in 1945, Mel worked eleven years for Toledo Scale Company, owned Safe-T-Flare Rental Company, and retired as a construction and iron worker. Mel was a member of the American Legion - Post 374, the Laborer’s International Union - Local 177, and he was a long-time member of Grandview Golf Course. Mel had an unsurpassed passion for golf and he played well into his eighties, but he also enjoyed fishing, gardening, music, and spending time with his family.
Mel is survived by the love of his life and wife of 66 years, Virginia (Ramsey); daughter, Nancy (Ron) Keller of Clive; son, Melvin Jr. of Bellevue; grandchildren, Stacey Ambs of Frisco, Texas, Ginny (Bruce) Smith of Des Moines, Rusty (Lindsey) Grant of West Des Moines, Jessica (Zach) Keller of West Des Moines and Adrienne Ploeger of Ames; great-grandchildren, Brittany, Ashley, Candice, Jordan, Peyton, Morgan, Gracie and Rexley; brothers-in-law, Don Ramsey of Des Moines and Larry (Karen) Ramsey of Vero Beach, Florida; sister-in-law, JoAnne (Bob) Pierick of Ankeny; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mel was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Virginia (Stuart) Petersen and Donna (Al) Holloway; brothers, Raymond and Russell; and daughter, Candace Schmacker.
The family will greet friends from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2015 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street in Des Moines. The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 2, also at the funeral home, followed by a short burial service in Liberty Center, Iowa. Memorial contributions may be directed to the First United Methodist Church, 1001 Pleasant Street, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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