Kenneth "Ken" Bowers, Sr.

Kenneth “Ken” Bowers, 74, of Spring Grove, unexpectedly died Saturday, January 4, 2020, at his home.  He was born November 27, 1945, in Los Angeles, CA, to the late Kenneth Hunter and Mary Ellen (nee King) Bowers.

Ken was born and raised in California and ventured to the Midwest in his 30s.  Here he met the love-of-his-life, Mary Ellen (nee Murray), whom he married June 25, 1988.

Ken retired from Orkin, where he had worked for many years and was a business manager.  He enjoyed fishing and collecting die-cast cars and what he thought were antiques.  Above all, he was a very-loving man who had an extraordinary sense of humor and was a loving Papaw to his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Mary; children, Bambi (Joe) Wilber, Kenny (Maria) Bowers Jr., Brian (Donna) Sampsel Sr., Rob (Jaylynn) Bowers Sr., Laure (Tony) Taylor, and Briana (Mike) Beckman; 20 grandchildren, Jimmy, Nick, Brian Jr., Kylie, Natalie, Shelby, Stephen, Mary Ellen, Lauren, Grace, Robert Jr., Jonathan, Caden, Steve, Michael, Joey, Jason, Jeff, Kenneth III, Alexa, Jacob, and Jacob; special great-granddaughter, Aurora, and nine other great-grandchildren; nephew, Bobby Bowers; and niece, Valerie Rich.

In addition to his parents, Ken was preceded in death by son, James “Jimmy” Sampsel; and brother, Robert Maynard Bowers.

Visitation Thursday, January 9, from 3 p.m. until the time of funeral service at 7 p.m., at Hamsher Lakeside Funerals and Cremations, 12 N. Pistakee Lake Rd., Fox Lake.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Ken’s name may be made to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, 30 N LaSalle St., Ste. 4300, Chicago, IL 60602-2584, www.SendBlessings.org, or 800-532-5577, appreciated.

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