Obituary of John Bowden

Bowden, John William, M.D. Age 86, of Joliet died 9:46 p.m. Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home. John William Bowden, M.D. was born in Chicago, IL on October 13, 1924, the son of Lloyd M. Bowden, Sr. and Elizabeth (nee Schreiber) Bowden. John was enrolled at Harvard in 1941 when WW II started and entered the Army. He began his Medical education in California while serving in the Army from 1943 to 1946. In 1949 he graduated from Northwestern Medical School. He finished his internship at Evanston Hospital in 1950 and transferred to Wayne State University Medical School in Detroit, Michigan to complete his surgical residency at Detroit Receiving Hospital and Dearborn Veterans Hospital. John served as a Clinical Instructor in Surgery for Wayne State University Medical School at Dearborn Veterans Hospital before setting up his private practice in a General Surgery specialty in Joliet in 1957. He practiced medicine as a partner of the Family Medical Group and on the staffs of St Joseph Medical Center (Provena), Silver Cross Hospital and AmSurg until he retired in 1991. During his years of practice he served in many leadership positions at St Joseph Medical Center including Chief of Surgery, Chief of the Medical Staff, and Trauma Director. He also served in many capacities in local, state and national medical organizations including diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, Fellow American College of Surgeons, on the Teaching Faculty of the American Board of Abdominal Surgery, President of the Will-Grundy County Medical Society, and on the board of the Illinois State Medical Society. Upon retiring from full time practice he continued to work part-time as a volunteer physician at the Will-Grundy County Medical Clinic. His dedication to the medical care of his patients, his integrity and his abilities as a surgeon was an inspiration to all who knew him and worked with him. During his lifetime, John remained committed to Joliet Catholic community by being involved with St Paul the Apostle Church, Joliet Catholic Academy, Providence High School, the College of St. Francis and Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home. He also served on numerous boards of social and charitable organizations including Joliet Country Club as board member and President, and United Way as a campaign leader. Surviving are his brother, Fr. Lloyd M. Bowden of Joliet; sister-in-law, Mrs. Rita Lois (Keane) Bowden of Timonium, MD; his sons, Jeffery J. (Marcia) Bowden of Inverness, Lloyd M. (Donna) Bowden of New Lenox, John W. (Sarah) Bowden of Franklin, NC, and William D. (Marlene) Bowden of Colorado Springs, CO; daughters, Nicholette (Dr. Dennis) Rademacher of Decatur, Margaret (Dr. Charles) Dillon of La Grange, Elizabeth (Jeffery) Biro of Phoenix, AZ, Mary (Hugh) Wilson of Denver, CO, Susan (Charles) Schiek of La Grange, and Sarah (John) Casebeer of Decatur; 32 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rita L. Streit; his daughter, Jennifer; his grandsons, Thaddeus Rademacher and Thomas M. Bowden; his parents and his brother, Richard H. Bowden. He will be remembered for his intelligence, his honesty and his generous spirit. Funeral Services for John W. Bowden, M.D. will be Monday, January 10, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. from the funeral home to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment Woodlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name to the Will-Grundy County Medical Clinic, Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center or Joliet Area Community Hospice would be appreciated. Visitation Sunday 2-7 p.m. at: FRED C. DAMES FUNERAL HOME 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet For information: (815) 741-5500