WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Wilbur F. Bower, 76, of Sturgis, died Sunday, May 3, 2015, at Sturgis Hospital, following a brief illness. He was born Sept. 1, 1938, in Rose City, a son of Ernest and Louise (Olney) Bower. He was a Sturgis-area resident most of his life and was a 1956 graduate of Sturgis High School.
He was owner and operator of Trapper Will’s in Sturgis, a tool-and-die maker, employed by Burr Oak Tool and Gauge for 21 years and Alvan Motor Freight in Kalamazoo.
He was a member of Fish Lake Bible Church, National Trappers Association and NRA. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, woodworking, flowers and traveling.
On May 25, 1979, he married Diane R. Hagen in White Pigeon. She died Dec. 27, 2014.
Survived by his children, Scott (Hiroko) Bower and Three Rivers, Jeanenne (Don) Cliffman of Burksville, Ky., Jill Castanon of Jacksonville, Fla., Chad Bower of Fort Myers, Fla.; stepchildren, Suzanne (Gregory) Macomber of Kalamazoo, Mary (Steve Gonde) Geibe of Golden, Colo., Joe (Kim) Geibe of Sturgis; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Lucille Wasikowski of Marshall; a brother, Ned Bower of Sturgis; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and a brother, Fred Bower.
Visitation will be held 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Services are at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 7, 2015, at Fish Lake Bible Church, with Pastor Timothy Brondyke officiating. Interment will follow in Fish Lake Bible Church Cemetery.
Donations may be directed to the Fish Lake Bible Church building fund.
