Harold Dean "Tuffy" Bowen

Farmington — Harold Dean “Tuffy” Bowen passed away November 1, 2022 at Liberty Village Manor Court. He was 100 years, 10 months and 26 days old. He was born December 6, 1921 in Batavia, Illinois to Edward Oliver and Eva Mae (Hohstadt) Bowen. He met the love of his life, Patricia B “Pat” Zumsteg, on a blind date in college and they married October 19, 1946 in Quincy, Illinois. She preceded him in death in 2015. 

He is survived by their three children, Susie (Dennis) Riekena, Jim (Barb) Bowen and Patti (Jim) Reiland, 6 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, a great-great grandchild on the way and his youngest brother, Larry Bowen. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, a great-granddaughter and four siblings, Mary Lou Dalton, Betty Norris, Carl and Vincent Bowen.

 He graduated from Stronghurst High School in 1939 and Western Illinois State Teachers College (WIU) in Macomb after serving his country. He enlisted into the Army-Air Corp(Air Force) in 1943 and attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant and was a veteran of WWII. He was stationed with the 20th Air Force Base on Guam and was honorably discharged in 1946. He taught and coached the Wolves of Terre Haute High School, the Bulldogs of Media Wever High School, the Farmers of Farmington High School and the Farmington Superettes women’s fast pitch softball team. He was inducted into the WIU Hall of Fame in 1984 in track and field; inducted into the Farmington High School Hall of Fame; inducted into the Illinois Athletic Director Association. He was a member of the Farmington American Legion Post 140, the Farmington Athletic Booster Club and St Matthew Catholic Church in Farmington. 

Visitation will be Friday, November 4th at 6-8 p.m. at Anderson-Sedgwick Funeral Home in Farmington and funeral mass will be Saturday, November 5th at 10:00 a.m. at St Matthew Catholic Church in Farmington. A private interment will be at Resurrection Mausoleum in Peoria. Memorials may be made to the Farmington American Legion Post 140 and Farmington Central Academic Foundation. To leave on-line condolences please visit www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com.