James "Jim" F. Bower Jr.'s Obituary
James (Jim) Franklin Bower Jr., 81, of Camanche, was called home on April 16, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He faced ten years of paralysis with unwavering strength, courage, and determination.
Funeral Services will be 11:00am, Monday, April 21, 2025 at the Camanche Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 10:00am to the service time at the funeral home. A private family burial will take place after the service at Rose Hill Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Joe Stutting, Josh Stutting, Troy Birley, Pat Blankenship, Devan Stickrod, and TJ Bower. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Craig Lorenzen, Bob Card, Dave Rickertsen, Dave Evers, and Rich Edleman.
Jim was born on December 21, 1943, in Clinton, Iowa, to Evelyn (Lord) Bower and James Bower Sr. From a young age, the Mississippi River captured his heart. Growing up on Swan Slough, he developed a deep love for the outdoors and became an avid trapper, hunter, and fisherman—passions that would remain central throughout his life.
He attended Clinton High School for his sophomore year before graduating from Camanche High School in 1962. During his school years, he was not only a talented drummer but also a dedicated athlete, participating in football, wrestling, and track.
At the age of 17, while working as a lifeguard at Willow Lake, Jim met the love of his life, Connie Hellweg. Over two summers, he heroically saved 33 people—a testament to both his bravery and his calm under pressure. After high school, he worked at Collis Company as a machinist for 18 months before beginning a long career as an electrician at DuPont, where he was employed from 1964 until his retirement in 2001.
On June 2, 1965, he married Connie, and together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and adventure. They raised three daughters: Jami, Lesley, and Shelley.
Jim felt honored to serve as a volunteer firefighter for the Camanche Fire Department. He was also proud to be a lifetime member of the NRA.
Jim’s love for the outdoors was a lifelong passion. The river wasn’t just a backdrop to his life—it was at the heart of it. He spent countless hours boating, fishing, trapping, and camping along the Mississippi and nearby waters. He later became a skilled target shooter, earning many awards for his marksmanship. These outdoor pursuits weren’t just hobbies—they were a way of life that he proudly passed down to his daughters and grandsons. He taught them how to fish, how to set a trap, and how to find peace and joy in the natural world.
In addition to his outdoor life, Jim was a gifted photographer. He had an eye for capturing the quiet beauty of the world around him and received several awards for his work. He also had a deep love of woodworking. His hand-carved shorebirds were highly sought after for their craftsmanship and detail, and he often donated them to charitable causes—always happy to give something beautiful back to his community.
Jim was a perfectionist in everything he did. Whether he was woodworking, fixing, or building, he believed in doing things right—and doing them well. His intelligence went beyond books; he was a natural problem-solver, often engineering solutions no one else could see. From mechanical repairs to ingenious workarounds, he had a mind built for both precision and creativity. If something was broken, Jim could fix it—and probably make it better than before.
He also valued friendship deeply and held tight to bonds that lasted a lifetime.. His closest friends were like brothers to him, and they shared years of memories in the woods, on the water, and around the fire. Their loyalty, laughter, and companionship meant the world to him, and those friendships remained a constant source of joy and strength throughout his life.
Above all, Jim had a playful spirit. His sense of humor was quick and mischievous, and he loved to make people laugh. He was well known for his pranks—always good-natured, always clever. Whether it was a perfectly timed joke or a harmless trick that left everyone in stitches, Jim’s humor brought lightness and laughter to those around him. He could make even the toughest days feel a little bit easier.
Jim’s stories, his wisdom, and his steady presence will be deeply missed. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the skills he shared, and the wild places he so dearly loved.
Jim is survived by his wife, Connie, of Camanche, his three daughters: Jami (Joe) Stutting of Princeton, Lesley (Troy) Birley of Camanche, and Shelley (Pat) Blankenship of Lake City, Iowa; 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren with another due in May, his siblings: Tom (Judy) Bower of Hanover, Virginia, and Anita (John) Evans of Livingston, Texas, and his nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, and his beloved dog Jake.
Memorials can be made to the Clinton Humane Society.
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