Martha "Marti" Bowker

November 12, 1951 - August 28, 2021

Martha “Marti” Bowker, 69, of Oskaloosa, went to be with the Lord Saturday, August 28, 2021, while being cared for at the Northern Mahaska Specialty Care Center in Oskaloosa. She was born November 12, 1951, in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of Thomas and Phyllis Evans Goodner. She graduated from Shenandoah High School with the class of 1969. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics and Early Childhood Development from Northwest Missouri State University. On July 21, 1973, she was united in marriage to John Bowker at the First Presbyterian Church in Shenandoah, Iowa. To this union a daughter Abby was born. Marti earned her teaching certificate from William Penn College in Oskaloosa. She thoroughly enjoyed her time teaching Kindergarten in the Fremont and New Sharon Community School Districts. She retired from North Mahaska Community School in 2010. She was active in P.E.O. Chapter X and with the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in Oskaloosa. She gave selflessly of her time volunteering for Mahaska Health Partnership at the Hospital and Serenity House. She enjoyed being a wife and mother. She always looked forward to attending Abby’s events and being involved with the parent groups that made those activities possible. She especially enjoyed the “Band Mom” group that met on Wednesdays. She had an outgoing and kind personality and looked forward to socializing with family and friends. She also enjoyed traveling with John. Her family includes her husband of over 48 years, John Bowker of Oskaloosa; her daughter and husband, Abby and Jonathan Chaney of Coralville; her sister and husband, Jan and Larry Jones of Olathe, Kansas; her brother and wife, Jim and Amy Goodner of Granby, Colorado; brothers and sisters in law, Robert and Jane Bowker of Vermillion, South Dakota and Jeff and Nancy Bowker of Algona, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. Marti was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Goodner and Phyllis (Leland) Goldberg; a brother, Johnny Goodner; and a niece, Delaney Goodner. A memorial service will be held Friday, September 3, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. in the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Molly Goodrich officiating. As was Marti’s wish her body has been cremated and burial of the urn will be in the Forest Cemetery at a later date. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Thursday after 9:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Thursday evening to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to the Early Childhood Development Center at the new YMCA in Oskaloosa.