Jerry Bower

Jerry Jay Bower, 86, of League City, Texas, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on Monday, May 24, 2021.

He was born May 8, 1935, in Bridgewater. He was one of 11 children belonging to Leroy and Alice (Mills) Bower. Jerry met Joan Duitsman at a bowling alley in Greenfield, and the two were married July 11, 1959. They had three children during their 62 years of marriage and his wife survives.

Jerry was raised on his family’s farm in Bridgewater. At 19 years old, after graduating from Bridgewater-Fontanelle High School, Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he honorably served until 1957.

Jerry worked in construction for the first few years of his marriage to Joan, which moved his young family to Texas in the early 1960s. He had a successful career in telecommunications for ConTel and then later GTE Telephone Company before retiring as the company transitioned to Verizon.

Jerry was a member of the American Legion Post No. 554 in League City. Jerry will be remembered as hardworking, a jack-of-all tradesman who had a passion for watching the Astros and collecting coins. Although he could be ornery, Jerry was quite a jokester and loved to laugh and make others smile.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Alice Bower; his sister Mary Jean Dennis; three brothers: Bill Bower, Dean Bower and Don Bower; one grandson, Christopher Joseph Bower.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Joan Bower; two sons, Duane Herrick (Mary) of Pearland, and Jeff Bower (Kay) of Cleburne; daughter Carol Bower of Dickinson. Also carrying on his memory are 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, May 28, 2021, in Forest Park East Cemetery in Webster, Texas.