John Leroy Bower

John (Jack) Bower was born in Los Angeles, California on February 11, 1921, where the family later moved to Arizona and then to San Antonio, Texas. In the early 40s Jack attended St. Mary's University where he studied business management and served in the Young Christian Workers Movement.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, sister Loretta and brothers Bobby, Ed and Larry. Jack is survived by numerous nieces and nephews mainly in Texas and Arizona with some scattered throughout the country.

After his parents' deaths, Jack helped raise his teenage brother Larry along with his sister Loretta and brother in law, Bernie Lamoureux. Jack was a great mentor and big brother to Larry encouraging him to work while in high school and go to college resulting in a longstanding career at HEB.

Jack had a 30 year accounting career as a civil servant Budget Analyst for Fort Sam Houston U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas where he had retired in 1976 from office of the Comptroller Budget Division. In the 80s he also engaged in a second career with “Big Brothers Big Sisters” where he managed the books and employee payroll. He eventually retired again in the late 90s for the second time when the payroll systems migrated to “computers”……… which admittedly he did not want any part of. He continued serving the community as a “big brother” mentoring young boys while teaching them math, bowling and golfing skills. In addition, he was a “generational mentor” for Northeast Independent School District at Garner Middle School where he tutored reading and arithmetic skills.

Known as “Uncle Jackie”, he was a kind and generous man always contributing to the Bower and Lamoureux families especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. He was known for his manual vintage “Underwood” typewriter which he would type EVERYTHING. For birthdays, Uncle Jack would mail a typed check with the dollar amount matching the age of the child. In his early years, his hobbies including swing dancing while later in life he took up mailing pages and pages of funny jokes and inspirational quotes to friends and family. He enjoyed this so much he even invested his own copier allowing him to share and distribute these “funnies”. Some of his pleasures in life were his black coffee, morning newspaper, golf on TV, national news, tomato juice, radio talk shows and oh yeah, “don’t mess with his eggs and bacon”.

Jack enjoyed playing golf while playing 9 rounds until his mid-80s where his claim to fame was “I walked every hole and never used a golf cart”. He also participated in a lifetime of bowling leagues where he socialized and invested in many friendships. Beginning in 1949, Jack was also a long-standing member of the Hermann Sons Life community with many fond memories at the Hermann Sons bowling alley downtown San Antonio. He recently received his 70-year lifetime achievement pin from the Grand Lodge of the Order of the Sons of Hermann.

Jack represented a patriotic generation of great bravery, integrity and character serving in the U.S. Navy from September 1942-April 1946 in Washington D.C. and sea duty aboard the supply ship, Fighting Freemont (APA-44). During his ocean travels in the Pacific Theater, he logged in nearly 68,000 miles participating in the Saipan Invasion / Angaur Invasion / Peleliu Invasion / Leyte Gulf Invasion / Luzon Invasion / Philippine liberation ribbon and the battle of Iwo Jima; famous for the Marines raising the U.S. flag over the island. Although he never considered himself an Iwo Jima Veteran, he was on a supply ship offshore distributing provisions to the Marine combat troops. As a World War II veteran, Jack was always humble and soft-spoken about his military experiences as a patriot servant to his beloved country. He truly represented the “Greatest Generation” and was the epitome of the classic Patriotic American.

Jack Bower was a faithful man who loved God, family and his country. He was a lifelong member of St. Pius X participating in the hospitality ministry as an usher. Jack had an intimate relationship with Jesus and looked forward to his judgement day and being reunited with his parents and siblings in heaven. He was excited for the opportunity of eternal life with a spot secured for him at the right hand of the Father.

A military service and celebration of Jacks life will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery – date to be later determined

The family sends thanks to the wonderful caring and compassionate sisters and staff at St. Francis Nursing Home where he lived the past year.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

St. Francis Nursing Home - 630 W Woodlawn Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas - 10843 Gulfdale St, San Antonio, TX 78216

St. Pius X Church – 3303 Urban Crest Drive, San Antonio, TX 78209