Mary Elaine Bowen

Mary Elaine Tunman Bowen, the daughter of John Michael and Mary Belle Law Tunman, was born in Melville Township, Audubon, IA on October 15, 1916 and passed away at Friendship Home, Audubon, IA on April 23, 2017.
She attended country school at Melville #8 and graduated from Audubon High School in 1933. She attended Simpson College, graduating with a Bachelor degree in Music/English in 1937. Elaine was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and played violin in the Simpson College Symphony.
Elaine was baptized as an infant and confirmed in 1927 at the Audubon Methodist Church, where she faithfully attended all of her life. She taught Sunday school, Bible school, was a member and director of the choir, the bell choir, served as Sunday school superintendent and secretary, a circle leader, and was President of the UMW as well as being on various committees and boards.
She taught Music and English in a number of Iowa schools, for over 30 years. In 1976, she began working for the Nishna Valley Tribune and continued to work for the Audubon County Newspapers for 25 years.
On April 18, 1943, she married Lawrence A. Bowen at Camp Hulen, TX. They farmed in Melville Township and lived on the family farm which became a Century Farm in 1981.
Elaine was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Federated Women’s Club, Delta Kappa Gamma, and a member of a musical group that played regularly at the Exira Care Center and the Audubon Friendship Home. She was a member of the Sesquicentennial committee, celebrating Audubon’s 150th birthday and was awarded the Audubon Citizen of the Year in 1996. She enjoyed traveling in the United States and also internationally.
Survivors include daughters, Kathleen (James) Steele, of Washington, IL, Elizabeth “Betty” Bowen and Barbara (Kim) Krauel, both of Audubon, IA, four grandchildren, Stephanie Deiters of Washington, IL, Sarah Smith of Audubon, IA, Christopher Krauel (fiancé Maria Moreno-Pardo) of Overland Park, KS and Nicholas Krauel of Beaumont, TX, and six great-grandchildren, Alexandria Elaine, Elizabeth, Luke, Clare, and Isaac Deiters all of Washington, IL and Morgan Smith of Audubon, IA.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence, her son, Paul, and her parents.
The family will meet with friends Wednesday, April 26, 2017, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, IA. Funeral Services will be on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, IA. Pastor Kathy Kluis will officiate. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The Honorary casket bearers will be the Staff at the Friendship Home in Audubon. The casket bearers will be Luke Deiters, Tim Madsen, Tom Madsen, Brian Jensen, Brian Svobota, and David Campbell.