Dale Franklin Bowlsby

Dale grew up in Des Moines, Iowa with his parents, Merle and Ruth, and brother Robert (Bob). He enjoyed school, played baseball, worked a paper route, had a dog, and proudly watched his brother Bob enlist in WW2 and become a PBY pilot. He made many trips to Walnut, Illinois to visit his mother’s family, and also often visited the Bowlsby family in Winterset, Iowa. He attended the Methodist church, and developed many lifelong friends in the Des Moines area.

Dale graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School, Des Moines, in 1945. He immediately enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in Panama and Peru until discharged. Under the G.I. Bill, he attended Drake University and graduated with a degree in economics in 1949. While there, he was a member of the ATO Fraternity, and met the love of his life, Norma Elaine Wood, at a party. They were married on June 30, 1950 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Dale started his insurance career in Omaha, where Connie was born. He moved the family to Des Moines when he joined Travelers Insurance. Two other children, Carrie and Jeff were added to the family while in Des Moines. Kirk was born in 1963. Dale was promoted and moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he managed the Travelers office until 1969. Dale obtained his Certified Life Underwriter (CLU). He was promoted to Assistant Manager of the Traveler’s Des Moines office in 1970.

Dale enjoyed traveling, and he and Norma took the family on many camping trips: Black Hills, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Wyoming, Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin Dells, and Glacier National Park. The family also travelled to Connecticut were Dale visited his father.

Dale was also an avid golfer and had belonged to the Sioux City Boat Club & Country Club; he continued to enjoy playing golf over the years with his many friends. Dale was also handy with tools, and enjoyed making and restoring furniture, doing things around the house, painting, wallpapering, and installing a patio. He once fashioned a mantelpiece from an old oak door for his house in Sioux City.

With Connie and Carrie away in college in 1975, Dale moved the family to Tucson, AZ for 3 years. Norma and Dale enjoyed being there, close to Dale’s brother in Phoenix. In 1978 he returned to Des Moines and Travelers Insurance. Dale and Norma settled in West Des Moines and installed a beautiful pool in their backyard. There they loved gardening, socializing with friends and family, and swimming. Both Dale and Norma’s mothers also lived in Des Moines, and it was a joy for the family to have them close by. Dale had a successful career with Travelers, and retired at age 59: He often fondly recalled the retirement party given in his honor at the Des Moines Golf & Country Club.

Dale and Norma had many close friends, and had an active retirement, traveling in their motorhome to Alabama, Florida, Arizona, and California. Dale and Norma were also involved in planning a Civil War memorial stone at the Allatoona Pass in Georgia: Dale’s great-grandfather, Benjamin Bowlsby, was a Union soldier, and was taken prisoner there after a heated battle.

Dale and his good friends started the I-80 Club: This was a group of buddies who met twice a year - many had settled in communities near Interstate 80. Golfing with friends also became a favorite activity of his retirement. Dale enjoyed watching the Cubs, and golf tournaments. He enjoyed backyard barbecues, and swimming with friends and grandkids. Christmas and the Fourth of July were favorites for family get-togethers at the house. Dale was very patriotic, and was on the Honor Flight to Washington DC to see the World War II Memorial. He also enjoyed his neighbors, and had fun making a large wooden painted cow that was “grazing” in the yard for many years. Dale and Norma visited England twice. They also frequently attended jazz festivals. Dale and Norma went on several Caribbean cruises.

Through all this, Dale continued to do the outdoor yardwork, painting, and home maintenance. In 2014 they moved to Scottish Rite in Des Moines; They had many friends there and enjoyed the social activities. Norma passed away in 2017. Dale moved into assisted living in January 2020, and endured the Covid lockdowns. Dale enjoyed his 95th birthday party in May.

Dale was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and wonderful friend. We will miss him greatly. He is survived by his 4 children: Connie Ohlson (Sam Salas); Carrie Kappen (James), Jeff Bowlsby (Vicki), and Kirk Bowlsby; 5 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.