Bruce Lee Bowker

Bruce Lee Bowker, age 61, of Osawatomie, Kansas, died September 5, 2010 at his home.
Bruce was born September 11, 1948 at Hutchinson, Kansas. He was the youngest of three children born to
Frank Hubert and Lillian Rosalie (Robinson) Bowker. The family moved to Osawatomie in the early ’50s. Bruce attended
school in Osawatomie.
He was married to Leslie Tyrell in 1967 at Osawatomie. They made their home in Osawatomie, Paola, Olathe,
Gardner, and then moved back to Paola. They divorced in 1985.
Bruce worked in law enforcement for several years. He began dispatching in Paola and then Johnson County
Sheriff’s Office. He had also worked as a Patrol Office in Johnson County. He was undersheriff for the Miami County
Sheriff’s Department and then became the Chief of Police in Paola.
Bruce was married to Tina Pixler in Osawatomie in 1990. They made their home in rural Paola. They divorced in
2007.
Bruce took some college courses through K-State and Johnson County and also some home schooling courses
learning how to repair TVs, VCRs, appliances, and small engines. He was known as a Mr. Fix-It. If he couldn’t fix
something that needed repaired, he would buy books to learn how to repair things.
Bruce had also worked for the Osawatomie school bus service as a school bus driver and mechanic. He owned
and operated the Mid-Way Drive-In between Osawatomie and Paola from the late ’80s until 2005.
Bruce had great interest in his children and grandchildren’s athletic games, recitals, and plays. Spending time
with his family was his most cherished pastime. He also enjoyed his “Beloved Boys,” two dachshunds named Jake and
Tucker. Tucker was credited with saving Bruce’s life on at least three different occasions. Bruce had gone into a low
blood sugar coma one time while he was home alone and Tucker woke him up by biting him on the nose. Bruce always
tried to be at home during storms knowing that the storms made the dogs very nervous. Bruce was a Pittsburgh
Steelers fan, but being a loyal Kansan could often be found wearing Kansas City Chiefs’ attire. He also enjoyed spending
time at their lake house on Pomme de Terre Lake where he entertained family and friends with boating, swimming,
skiing, and tubing. If it weren’t for his grandchildren, Bruce would have probably moved to the lake house by now.
Bruce’s morning exercise ritual was swimming with his sisters at the YMCA. He also played in a band which he started in
high school. He played at the school dances and enjoyed singing with his sister Diana.
He was a member of the Osawatomie First United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Elks, the
Patriot Guard, Eagles, Amateur Poker League, and the Kansas Peace Officers Association. Bruce was instrumental in the
development of the Miami County Search and Rescue Dive Team of which he was a volunteer.
He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his daughter Christina Rayl of Osawatomie and her
husband Johnny; two sons Scott Bowker of Harrisonville, Missouri and his wife Andrea and Tony Bowker and Cindy
Ballou of Osawatomie; his special significant other Lydia Rippie of Osawatomie; two sisters Jackie Needham and her
husband Donnie and Diana Wright all of Osawatomie; 13 grandchildren with one on the way; other relatives and friends.
A visitation was held from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, September 10, 2010 with a funeral service following.
Memorials are to the Frank & Rosalie Bowker Scholarship Fund.