Tom Bowser

Thomas Lee Bowser, 76, of Fort Collins, passed away Tuesday, February 18th, 2025. Born in Denver on May 19th, 1948, Tom was a lifelong Colorado native and avid Broncos fan. He was born the middle son to Al and Betty Bowser. Tom graduated from South High in 1966 and enlisted in the Navy, where he served in Vietnam. He left the service in 1970 and attended Metropolitan State University of Denver. During this time, he also worked on construction of the Eisenhower Tunnel. He then transferred to Colorado State University, graduating in 1978 with a degree in electrical engineering. While at CSU, he met Denise Hawthorne, who he married on August 8th, 1981.

Tom and Denise settled in Fort Collins, where they raised their three children, Michael, Molly, and Jennifer. Tom worked as an electrical engineer for Stone & Webster, which later became Shaw Group. He was an engineer there for 34 years, rarely missing a day of work, before his retirement in 2014. His work included traveling on site to power plants in Alaska, California, New Jersey, etc. When he wasn’t traveling for work, he commuted from Fort Collins to Denver every day.

After retirement, he focused on his passions: spending time with his children and grandchildren, camping, woodworking, cooking, and taking care of the home him and his wife shared for over forty years.

He was an avid outdoorsman. He and his family spent time at Red Feather Lakes every year; he would often be up there for weeks at a time. While there, he could be found fishing, hiking with his grandchildren, befriending and naming the wildlife, and soaking up the nature. At home, he would most often be in their backyard, reading or listening to a game underneath the pergola he built.

He was incredibly handy; he always had one project or another going. He also helped build his mother and father-in-law’s house up in Glenhaven, CO in the 1980s. Glenhaven was where Tom and Denise were married and holds many fond memories from when their children were growing up

He was an extremely hardworking, caring, and principled man. He would gladly do anything he could to help anyone who asked. Alongside that, he was hilarious. He loved a good cheesy joke, was a longtime April Fool’s Day prankster, and could bring levity to any situation. He didn’t shy away from looking or acting silly.

Tom is survived by his wife of 43 years, Denise; children, Michael, Molly, and Jennifer; grandchildren, Ryleigh, Finn, and Cassie; brother Ron and sister-in-law Vicki; nephews, Erin and Chris.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Bill.

A private celebration of life service will be held for family at Allnutt Drake Chapel. All are welcome to the reception on Wednesday, February 26th at 2PM.

Tom’s generosity, kindness, work ethic, and wackiness will live on in his children and grandchildren and be felt for generations to come.