Charles Ivan Bowman

Charles "Ivan" Bowman June 29, 2019 - December 10, 1941 Wenatchee, Washington Charles "Ivan" Bowman, 77, died tragically in a motorcycle accident near a beautiful stream bordered by lovely wildflowers in Plain, WA on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Just days before, he had ridden nearly 1000 miles in a 4 day motorcycle adventure through Washington and Canada with family. Ivan was born in December of 1941 in Chicago, IL, the first of four children of James B. Bowman and Merle Elizabeth (Allen) Bowman. In 1946 Ivan and his sister, Esther Marie, traveled to Nigeria, West Africa with their parents, where they lived for many years while their parents were engaged in missionary work for the Church of the Brethren. Two other children, James Russell and Carol Joy, were born into the family in Nigeria. Ivan and his siblings attended Hillcrest School in Jos, Nigeria. Ivan reminisced of poetry read by his mother, and numerous adventures from his life in West Africa. On furloughs in the United States the family lived in Modesto, CA and Elgin, IL. Ivan graduated from Modesto H.S. in 1958. During the years 1960-1963 in IL, Maurice Badibanga joined the family as an exchange student. Ivan attended and graduated from La Verne College (La Verne, CA) in 1966 with a B.A. in chemistry and mathematics, with a teaching credential. He married Karen Dunning the same year. Together, they taught English in Laos under International Voluntary Services (IVS) while Ivan fulfilled two years of alternative service as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War. It was here that he bought a 1965 AJS motorcycle. They returned to Southern CA in 1969 where he taught Jr. High math (Chino, CA) and their twin sons, Kurtis and Kevin were born in 1971. They settled in Mt. Baldy Village, CA, where he was a Volunteer Fireman for the small mountain community, in addition to his teaching. In 1976 they moved to Wenatchee, WA. In the 1980's Ivan and Karen (Dunning-Wells) separated and divorced. Ivan's work career included teaching, pricing and accounting work at Wells and Wade Hardware Store (Wenatchee), as well as quality control and accounting at TreeTop, Inc. (a grower-owned fruit processing cooperative) in Cashmere, WA until it closed in 2007. Ivan was an excellent musician from a young age, fondly remembering classical albums played from a gramophone during the four evening hours of electricity in the family's mission home. He played piano, clarinet, and organ in his youth, studying organ at La Verne College under the guidance of Ralph Travis. He participated in many musical groups throughout his life, including a barbershop quartet, the William Hall Chorale (Los Angeles), the Wenatchee Apollo club, "Sunnyslope Six," Bach Fest (Chelan) to name a few. In 1983 he was a founding member of Columbia Chorale in Wenatchee, singing with them continually through this season. He was also a valued member of the Marlin Handbells of Leavenworth. Ties to his family, music, service, and childhood friends took Ivan to Nigeria, Cameroun, Tchad, Germany, France, and other parts of Europe, Burundi, Kenya, Laos, Sweden, India, Scotland and England. Ivan also traveled many miles on motorcycle, foot and bicycle. He ran hundreds of runs including numerous marathons, 100K ultra-marathons, and extreme relays (Badger Mountain Run, Hood-to-Coast, Ridge-to-River relay to name a few). Ivan honored life, cared deeply about others, the environment, inclusivity, and political affairs that involved living an active peace, and care for the poor. He met regularly with the Visioning America group in Wenatchee, participated in Habitat for Humanity building, and helped build an outdoor amphitheater for T.H.A.R.S. (Trauma Healing and Reconciliation Services) in Burundi. He was an active member of the Sunnyslope Church in Wenatchee, serving as financial secretary there. He also served as treasurer for the Pacific Northwest District of the Church of the Brethren, and had served as treasurer for T.H.A.R.S. International. Ivan will be remembered for is quiet ways, his sense of humor, his pensive intelligence, a fierce desire to keep doors open in his relationships, his musical skills, and his love of family. He was kind and generous - quick to help others, often sacrificing his own needs for theirs. He loved to play chess, to read and learn, and shared many new understandings with friends and family. Ivan is survived by his twin sons, Kevin, and Kurt (and spouse Vira), two grandchildren, Joanna and Jason, and his siblings, Esther Gregory (and Steven) of East Wenatchee, WA; James R. Bowman (and Sally) of Corvallis, OR; Carol Bowman (and Ben Green) of Wenatchee, WA; and Maurice Badibanga (and Bernadette) of Fontana, CA. He will be sorely missed by nieces and nephews, as well as many loving friends. A Celebration of Ivan's life will be held at the Sunnyslope Church, 3330 School Street, Wenatchee on Saturday, August 10, 11:00 a.m. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee & Cashmere.

Charles Ivan Bowman

December 10, 1941 - June 29, 2019