Obit: Bowen, Richard #3 (1905 - 1960)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bowen, Braswell, Strohkirch, Cieslik, Dempsey

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 11/02/1960

Bowen, Richard #3 (1905 - 31 OCT 1960)

Richard Bowen, 54, died at St. Joseph’s Hospital at Marshfield about 4:30 Tuesday afternoon.

His death was due to a self-inflicted bullet wound.

Authorities investigating the death said he fired one shot from a .22 caliber rifle into the center of his forehead.  The shooting occurred at his rural home just east of Curtiss (Clark Co., Wis.) about 2:45, as his wife and oldest son, Dick, pulled into the driveway upon their return from Owen.

He, they reasoned, had been home with the baby and took the drastic action as he watched them return, from the kitchen window.  The shooting occurred in the kitchen of the home.

Mrs. Bowen immediately called Dr. Braswell, Owen, who rushed to the farm home with his nurse, Mrs. Clarence Strohkirch.  She accompanied Bowen to the hospital in the Owen ambulance manned by Frank Cieslik and Harry Dempsey.

Richard Bowen was the father of six children, five of them at home.  A World War II veteran, and since his return from the service has been employed as a fireman at the Western Condensing plant in Owen.

Funeral services are scheduled for 9:00 o’clock Saturday morning at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Owen.