Karen Elaine Bowen, 84, of Sarasota, Florida, and formerly Oskaloosa, passed away on March 13, 2025, in Oskaloosa under the care of Mahaska Hospice with her children by her side. A memorial service will be held Friday, May 2, 2025, at 10 a.m., at Langkamp Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa, Iowa with Pastor Mike Sereg officiating. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Memorial gifts in Karen’s memory can be made to Mahaska Health Foundation and will be directed to the Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Karen Elaine Bowen, daughter of Earl and Dorothy (Blake) Walker, was born April 26, 1940, the 7th of 10 children. She was raised on the Shrago Farm and attended West Center, and East Center Country Schools, and Oskaloosa High School.
Karen was married to Gordon Ashman and Robert Burgett; they later divorced. Three children were born to these unions: Kevin, Leisha, and Curtis. For many years, Karen raised her three children as a single parent. She worked 2 or 3 jobs simultaneously to provide for her family. Former workplaces include Mahaska Hospital as a Candy Stripe nurse aide, Ideal Manufacturing, the Continental Overall Factory, Hardee’s, school bus driver, bus barn secretary, Jemac Club waitress, Paslode Manufacturing, and Oskaloosa School System cafeteria worker.
In 1976, she met the love of her life, Jack Palmer Bowen, and they were married on June 26 of that year. They were married for 45 years until Jack’s passing on April 28, 2022. Jack and Karen loved doing everything together, and he was a great father to her children. One of their favorite pastimes was going to their cabin on the Des Moines River to camp and fish. Karen provided many a good meal there and is known by many as an extraordinary cook. Her homemade noodles, scalloped potatoes, biscuits, and gravy were legendary. To name a few, Karen could take a paltry bunch of leftovers and create a gourmet meal, river stew, and poor man stew. Karen and Jack were exemplary gardeners, growing most of what they ate. They took their yard work seriously; Karen loved to stay busy and was not known to take a nap. Their 7-acre spread was always manicured to golf course standards.
After Jack’s passing in 2022 and the subsequent sale of their property, Karen moved to her new apartment on her daughter’s property in Sarasota, FL. She was able to spend the last years of her life as a Floridian, enjoying the warm winter climate. She loved mowing, working in the yard, and cooking for her family. Karen also enjoyed remodeling projects with her daughter Leisha, watching sunsets, bird watching, crocheting, and putting dozens of puzzles together. She enjoyed her daily visits with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and welcomed her latest great-granddaughter just days ago.
Left to cherish her memory are her children and families: Kevin and Gwen Ashman of Bussey, IA, Leisha and James Kelderman of Sarasota, FL,; Curtis and Jennifer Bowen of Roan Mountain TN; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings: Dorothy Van Dyk of Plymouth, MN, Sue Sigler of Oskaloosa, Stephen and Janet Walker of Oskaloosa, and a sister-in-law, Virginia Walker of Oskaloosa.
Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Bowen; her parents, Earl and Dorothy Walker; a granddaughter, Lindsey Blake Ashman; and her siblings, Marilyn Walker, Lugene DeJong, Joyce Fox, Earl Walker, David Walker, and Gary Walker.
