Kathy Bowden

Kathy Lynn Bowden, 62, of Peoria, IL, passed away on Thursday, October 28, 2021, at home after a courageous 11-month battle with pancreatic cancer.  

She was born on March 21, 1959, in Peoria, Illinois, to William and Marjorie (Horstman) Bowden.  She was the youngest of eight children.

Survivors include sisters Janet Bowden of Bartonville and Margie (Charles) Horn of Peoria and brother William Bowden, Jr. of Peoria; numerous nieces and nephews; and her beloved fur babies Unk and Olive.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Judith Carter, Nancy Brown, and Andrea Pendleton; and brother David Bowden.

Kathy was a 1977 graduate of Dunlap High School.  After graduating, she worked as a dispensing optician at Weisser Optical in Peoria for 11 years.  She then went on to work at Arlington in Peoria as a mutuels teller.  For the past 32 years, Kathy worked as a certified optician at Gailey Eye Clinic in Peoria.  

Kathy loved spending time with family and friends, gardening, and cross-stitching.  She was a fan of Bob Seger and attended many of his concerts over the years, the most recent being in January, 2019, when he performed in Peoria. 

Kathy’s family would like to thank her friends, especially Nancy, Rachel, and Leanne, and neighbors, Brian, Pennie, and Betty, for their unwavering support during her illness.

A celebration of life will be held at Double A’s Pizza Sports Bar and Grill, 7716 IL-91, Peoria, on Saturday, November 20, from 3-5 PM.  To share a memory or to leave a condolence for her family, please visit www.peoriafuneral.com.Memorials can be made in her honor to any no-kill animal shelter.

Cremation has been accorded by Affordable Funeral and Cremation Services.

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