William Leonard Bowman

Raised in Carson City—with a brief Alaskan adventure at age two—Bill was one of three children born to William Verne Bowman and Dolores Virginia Bowman (Haffey). He graduated from Carson High School and studied at the University of Nevada, Reno. A true Nevadan at heart, Bill began his working life as a cowboy on John Ascuaga’s Ranch before dedicating over 30 years to the Nevada Department of Transportation. From plowing snow to serving as the Permit Coordinator for Right-of-Way, Bill was known for his tireless work ethic and unwavering integrity.

Bill was a devoted husband to Karen, his beloved wife of 40 years. Together, they built a life full of adventure, laughter, and quiet moments on the back porch swing or enjoying Dixie Valley. He was a proud father to Doug, Dan, Will, and Angie, and a cherished “Papa” to ten grandchildren who were the light of his life. Whether camping, fishing, hunting, sledding, or simply watching them play in the backyard he lovingly tended, Bill shared his love of the outdoors and created lasting memories with each of them.

Bill always made Christmas extra special for his family —he loved taking the family on the Polar Express, and his white hair & beard even made some grandchildren believe he might just be the real Santa Claus. He rarely missed one of his kids or grandkids’ school or sporting events, always cheering from the sidelines or tracking scores from afar. His pride in his family was boundless.

A proud member of the Dayton community, Bill coached Little League Baseball & Softball for over a decade and served as President of Silverada Little League from 1998 to 2000. Under his leadership, the league added a T-Ball field and batting cage, and celebrated its first five District 3 All-Star Tournament titles in Silverada history. On the Centennial Softball Fields, Bill was a bit of a slow pitch softball legend—known for his many home runs and digging out tough throws at first base.

Bill was a tough, hard working man who did what had to be done. He once abandoned his truck in the middle of Carson Street to chase down a purse thief, helped countless stranded motorists, and served as a caregiver to his mother, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law. His generosity and courage were boundless.

Few of his friends and family knew, but Bill was also a gifted poet who wrote touching tributes to his family, teams he coached, and an award winning ode to his family’s Black Labrador, Bo.

In January 2023, Bill was diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer and given just months to live. Through the prayers of hundreds, God’s miracles, and his typical strength, he defied the odds and lived nearly three more years. During that time, he was baptized at Life Church alongside his wife, son, and granddaughter, deepened his faith in Jesus, and continued making memories—fishing, camping, attending a Giants game, and witnessing milestones in his grandchildren’s lives – including the birth of two new grandsons.

Though his body grew weary, Bill’s spirit remained strong. He found peace in knowing his broken body would be restored in Heaven. His faith, love, and legacy live on in all who knew him.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Dee, and his brother Tom. He is survived by his wife Karen; children Doug (Jessica), Dan, Will (Kelsey), and Angie (Tyler); sister Pamela; and grandchildren Sean and Payton (Dan), Zachary, Jackson, and Olivia (Doug), Grace, Emma, and William Benjamin (Will), and Becca and Bentley (Angie).

Whether you went to school with him in Carson City, herded cattle with him, played for him as a coach, or crossed paths in any other way—Bill touched countless lives. He will be missed immensely, but his memory will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him. The Celebration of Life service will be held at Life Church in Carson City (1600 Snyder Avenue, Carson City, NV 89701) on September 7th, 2025 at 1PM. All are invited to celebrate and remember Bill’s remarkable life.