ALICE MAE (SHEFFER) BOWEN
ALICE MAE (SHEFFER) BOWEN
Alice Mae Bowen, 91, of Alma Center, WI, passed away Dec. 19, 2023, at her home. She was born June 2, 1932, to Ralph and Orva Sheffer and married Vernon Charles Bowen Oct. 30, 1954. Alice retired in 1989 from the Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan School District where she was employed as a secretary for 23 years.
Alice is survived by daughters Julie Swall, Kansas City, MO, and Janie Bowen-Frisbie, Alma Center; and son Todd (Tammy) Bowen, Alma Center; sister Kathy Kellar, Venice, FL; sisters-in-law Carol Ibinger, Blair, and Gladys Santas, Wonewoc. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Trever, Liz (Wendy), Andrea (Kelly), Gabe, Alex (Brianna), Annie (Kevin), Gracie (Ian), Mac (Ashley) and Lexie (Jordan); great-grandchildren Isaac, Evelyn, Max, Hazel, Nora, Nyla, Declan, Briar, Beau, Hannah, Lily, Ben, Me’khia, Diana, Diane, Graysen, Emalie, Allison, Jaylin, Cameron, Nicholas, Melina; great-great-grandchild Layla Jade; and many nieces, nephews and their families.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon (Nick) Bowen; parents Ralph and Orva Sheffer; and brothers Donald, Raymond and Kenneth Sheffer.
Our sweet Grandma Alice, by Lexie Truell.
She lived a full life, 91 years to be exact. Her family can readily agree that she was, simply put, the best.
Her kitchen table holds memories so dear. Who can count the hours spent with family gathered around, how many pots of coffee were made, the copious amounts of cookies consumed, or most importantly, the love we all felt? She loved her family and was blessed with many grandchildren and many more great-grandchildren. Oh, how peaceful she looked with a sleeping baby in her lap.
Just to name a few: Grandma loved to paint, make cards, bake and stay up far too late. She loved birds, roosters (or so we thought, the mention of liking roosters sparked years and years of everyone giving Grandma something rooster-themed, turns out she never loved them as much as we thought but in true Grandma fashion, she wasn’t about to tell us that) and soaking in the sunshine on her deck. Sugar cookies will never taste the same, a cup of coffee will always come with a memory, and putting her ornaments on the Christmas tree will now forever be so, so, so bittersweet.
“She was everything wonderful, kind and sweet. The world seems a little dimmer now, but Heaven sure is bright. I like to think God lets his angels help paint the sky, so with every sunrise and sunset, I’ll be looking for you, Grams. When the cardinals come, I will know you sent them. You were, and will forever be, absolutely everything to our family. We will grieve deeply because we loved deeply.
Cheers to you, Grandma.
A celebration of Alice’s life will be held on her birthday, June 2, 2024, at the VFW hall in Alma Center, WI.