Jerry Sowa. longtime island resident and former Marine has passed away unexpectedly. This happened late last week in California. Jerry was married to Shirley White (Clifford and Catherine) and spent many summers on Beaver Island through the years. He was a good friend, avid golfer and very proud American. He will be missed. More details coming........
Sorry for the delay in posting this, have been waiting for additional info which I still do not have.
Jerry Sowa RIP
Moderator: Gillespie
Gerald Raymond Sowa, 69, of Beaver Island, died Friday, February 3, 2006, at the Hemet Valley Hospital in Hemet, Calif. Jerry was born April 6, 1936, in Muskegon, the son of Leo M. and Mary (Ropotor) Sowa. He graduated from Muskeogon High School in 1954. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Western Michigan University, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and graduated from Quantico Officer's Candidate School. He served in the Marines for twenty-six years, which included two tours of duty in Vietnam, and another in Okinawa at the end of the war. He retired as a Major in 1977 at the age of 42. After retiring, he learned to become a mechanic and play the guitar, took singing lessons, went to electronics school, became EMT certified, completely built two homes, and learned to build golf clubs. He also earned a Master's Degree in Secondary Education from Arizona State University. He made his home on Beaver Island for the past fifteen years, where he was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church.
On May 9, 1959, he married the former Shirley E. White in Muskegon, and she survives. He is also survived by his children, John L. (Elaine) Sowa of Hemet, Calif., Michael A. Sowa of Beaver Island, Catherine (Joel) Meintsma of Coopersville, Lois M. (Kevin) Stipp of Hemet, Calif. and Beaver Island; grandchildren, Theresa, Melissa, Cory, Jeremy, and Tara Sowa, Aubreanne, Kyle, Kameron, Joleen and Shelby Meintsma, Jacob and Jessica Stipp; great-grandchildren, Cody and Amanda Stipp; brothers, Robert Sowa, James (Linda) Sowa, Gregory (Teresa) Sowa, Lawrence Sowa all of Muskegon; sisters, Teresa (Chuck) St. Amour of Muskegon, Mary Kreisel of Quartzite, Ariz.
A Rite of Christian Burial will be 11:00AM, Saturday, February 11, at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Beaver Island, the Reverend Patrick Cawley officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. A Rosary will be recited at Holy Cross Church at 7:00PM Friday, where friends may meet the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Cross Altar Society (Beaver Island). The family is being assisted by the Winchester Funeral Home in Charlevoix.
The family will miss the sound of his laughter and his wit, but mostly they will miss his tremendous love.
On May 9, 1959, he married the former Shirley E. White in Muskegon, and she survives. He is also survived by his children, John L. (Elaine) Sowa of Hemet, Calif., Michael A. Sowa of Beaver Island, Catherine (Joel) Meintsma of Coopersville, Lois M. (Kevin) Stipp of Hemet, Calif. and Beaver Island; grandchildren, Theresa, Melissa, Cory, Jeremy, and Tara Sowa, Aubreanne, Kyle, Kameron, Joleen and Shelby Meintsma, Jacob and Jessica Stipp; great-grandchildren, Cody and Amanda Stipp; brothers, Robert Sowa, James (Linda) Sowa, Gregory (Teresa) Sowa, Lawrence Sowa all of Muskegon; sisters, Teresa (Chuck) St. Amour of Muskegon, Mary Kreisel of Quartzite, Ariz.
A Rite of Christian Burial will be 11:00AM, Saturday, February 11, at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Beaver Island, the Reverend Patrick Cawley officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. A Rosary will be recited at Holy Cross Church at 7:00PM Friday, where friends may meet the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Cross Altar Society (Beaver Island). The family is being assisted by the Winchester Funeral Home in Charlevoix.
The family will miss the sound of his laughter and his wit, but mostly they will miss his tremendous love.