Ed Bowman

Funeral Services for Edgar F. "Ed" Bowman, Jr. will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Loomis, Nebraska with Pastor Tom Thompson officiating. Interment will be held in the Wilcox Cemetery at Wilcox, Nebraska with military honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 of Holdrege in conjunction with the Offutt U.S. Air Force Base Military Funeral Honors Team.

Edgar F. "Ed" Bowman, Jr., 75 years of age, of Loomis, passed away on Sunday, November 27, 2016 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Ed was born June 28, 1941 in Southport, North Carolina, the younger of two children born to Edgar F. Bowman, Sr. and Eunice C. (Larsen) Bowman. He received his primary education from seven different grade schools, the last being John Deere Grade School in East Moline, Illinois. Ed attended high school at the United Township High School in East Moline, where he graduated with the class of 1959. Through the years, Ed took several college courses from Central Community College at Hastings as he continued to further his education.

Ed enlisted into the United States Air Force on April 1, 1960. He served his country during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged on March 30, 1964. He then continued to serve in the Reserves until March 30, 1966. In 1972, Ed joined the Nebraska National Guard and was active until 1986.

On April 12, 1964, he was united in marriage to Carol Armbruster and to this union five children were born: Edgar III "Butch", Timothy, Candace, Pamela, and Paul "Eric". The family made their home in Holdrege, where Ed worked in the Insurance field and later he was in Advertising Sales and was a Pressman for local newspapers.

On December 29, 1981, he was united in marriage to Ruby F. (Lieb) Pouk at Holdrege, and to this union one son, Michael was born. Ed welcomed Ruby's children: Laurie, Angela, Tammy, and Joseph with loving arms and together with his children the family was made complete. They made their home in Loomis, where Ed continued to work in the newspaper industry. In 1992, he began driving school buses for the Loomis and Holdrege School Districts. He loved all of his students and enjoyed supporting each school at their events. Ruby preceded him in death in 2014.

Ed was an active member in the Holdrege Elks Lodge #2062, where he served in all officer positions and three times as Exalted Ruler. After the Holdrege chapter dismembered, he served as Lecturing Knight, Leading Knight, and was currently serving as the Exalted Ruler in the Kearney Elks Lodge #984 at the time of his passing. He was also a past member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie #3132 of Holdrege.

Ed was an avid golfer, and kept busy playing as many rounds as possible. He also enjoyed collecting model cars and coins. But most of all, his pride and joy were all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed following their activities and was a wonderful, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.


Besides his parents, and both wives, Ed was preceded in death by his brother, Gary Howard and his wife, Annabelle.

Ed leaves to celebrate his life; his children: Edgar F. "Butch" Bowman III of Rapid City, South Dakota, Timothy Bowman of Lincoln, Nebraska, Candace Voss and her husband, Michael of Davenport, Iowa, Pamela Magner and her husband, Kip of Lincoln, Paul "Eric" Bowman and his wife, Cathy of Pueblo, Colorado, Michael Bowman and his wife, Amanda of Kearney, Laurie Ziems and her husband, Scott of Kearney, Angela Marquardt and her husband, Scott of Holdrege, Tammy Burgeson and her husband, Heath of Kearney, Joseph Pouk and his wife, Shanda of Holdrege, John Schelb and his wife, Sarah of Davenport, Iowa, and Laura Ward of Illinois; twenty-eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one sister, Frances Montgomery of Mason City, Illinois; sister-in-law, Patty Smith of Ashland, Nebraska; two brothers-in-laws: Larry Lieb and Leroy Lieb and his wife, Kay all of Wilcox; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.


Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege. Fraternal Honors will be held by the Elks Lodge #984 on Wednesday, evening at the funeral home at 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Ed's honor and kindly suggested to the St. Jude's Children Hospital or the Shriners Hospital for Children.


Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.