Thayne Bowden

Thayne Zell Bowden, 92, died in Mesa, AZ on Saturday, October 18, 2014 after a long illness.
Memorial Service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawarden, Iowa with Rev. Todd Bunge officiating. Burial of the cremated remains will follow in the Grace Hill Cemetery with Military Rites by the Hawarden American Legion Two Oaks Post #254. The Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.
Thayne was born on the family farm near Ireton, Iowa on August 28, 1922 to Frank and Clara (Watkins) Bowden. He was the second of seven children. He graduated from Ireton High School in 1940.
Thayne and Catherine VandeHoef were married in 1944. To this union four children were born. Thayne married Sue Wohlert on September 17, 1976.
Thayne farmed northwest of Ireton for several years, moving to Hawarden in 1957. He held several jobs there over the years, including bookkeeper at L.G. Everist, and manager at American Cyanamid. He and Sue owned and operated a mini-golf course in Hawarden.
Thayne served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was a star pitcher for Ireton high school and played semi-professional baseball after his discharge from the Marines. His claim to fame was that he pitched a perfect game once and seven no-hitters!
Sue and Thayne moved to Texas and later, to Arizona, where they enjoyed over 30 years living in the Mesa area. He was an avid gun collector, enjoyed skeet shooting and creating craft projects.
Thayne is survived by his wife of 38 years, Sue; his four children: Kay Schnoor, Minneapolis; Lonnie (Karen) Bowden, West Liberty, IA; Bill Bowden (Trudy Paul), Hawarden; Mark Bowden (Kathie Petrie), Sioux City; and step-son, Fred Wohlert, Sioux City. He is also survived by his sisters: Ardel Smit and Velda Juffer, both of Sioux Center and Wanda Kuchel, Omaha and 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers; Homer and Dean, his sister, Betty and great-grandson, AJ Schnoor and brothers-in-law, Gaylen Kuchel, Delmar Smit and Gerald Juffer.

Memorial Service

Wednesday October 29, 2014 , 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church