John J Bowler
September 7, 1969 - January 13, 2025
John J Bowler passed away at home the morning of January 13, 2025, following a 3-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS. He spent his last moments surrounded by his family, who will miss him dearly.
John was born on September 7, 1969, in Elk Grove, Illinois to Leslee and John W Bowler. He attended Purdue University and then the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. He did his first residency at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by a second residency in internal medicine at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare where he also served as a chief resident. It was at Northwestern where he met his wife, Beverly Chang. They married in 2002, at Wasatch Presbyterian Church. As a hospitalist, John practiced at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington, Tauranga Hospital in Tauranga, New Zealand, and Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, Utah. John and Beverly lived in Seattle after getting married, where their two children, Jana and Sarah, were born. They moved to Salt Lake City in 2008, where John perfected his spring “biathlon days”. He would ski at Brighton in the morning, golf in the afternoon, and make it home in time for dinner. The family dog, Tui, was adopted in 2017 when the family returned from their year abroad in New Zealand. John spent many hours with Tui in Millcreek Canyon and in the hills around Jack’s Peak, which he renamed Mount Bowler. In the final months of his life, he loved to take Tui around the block in his electric wheelchair. He was a supportive friend, a caring father, and a loving husband. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.
He is survived by his mother, Leslee, his wife, Beverly, and his two children, Jana and Sarah.
A celebration of life will be held on February 1, from 5 – 7 PM, at Stark’s Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use parking and entrance located on the north side of the building.
Donations can be made to the ALS United Rocky Mountain, at https://alsrockymountain.org/donate/, in memory of John.
In Loving Memory
I met John Bowler at Tauranga Hospital. It was my first day as a medical registrar and his first day working in New Zealand. Together we fumbled our way through and became an awesome team and friends. He enjoyed the outdoors so we would often share places to explore and walk. He would talk about his daughters and there football skills proudly. As his junior team we loved his company, he had a humble and relaxed approach to medicine and a great dry sense of humour. We would laugh behind his back about his woollen vests that were ‘too old’ for a man his age. After he left we would occasionally keep in touch over facebook. I am very sorry and saddened to read about John (we would call him J.bowl). Condolences from myself and I’m sure the junior doctor team who worked with us at Tauranga Hospital New Zealand. Kia kaha
Victor and I send our deepest condolences. We talk about John often and this was such upsetting news. We have only the best memories of him in training and he was a wonderful doctor and person. Thinking of you and your family. Know that we have a few catch phrases of his that we still quote often and laugh about. He still makes us smile even not having seen him for 20 some years.
In Loving Memory
