Funeral Services Announce For Connie Bower

Memorial Services for Connie Bower, age 66, formerly of Spencer, Nebraska, will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 19, 2014, at Brockhaus Funeral Home in Spencer, with the Reverend Grant H. Graff officiating.

Visitation will be Wednesday, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Brockhaus Funeral Home in Spencer.

Connie died Saturday, June 14, 2014 at Alpine Village in Verdigre, Nebraska.

Constance Jo Johnson (Connie Bower) was born on January 18, 1948 in Norfolk, Nebraska, to Bert and Rose (Zeisler) Johnson. Connie grew up on the Johnson farm six miles east of Spencer and attended country school. She was active in 4-H during her elementary years.

Connie graduated from Spencer Public High School in Spencer in 1966 and was Salutatorian of her class. She attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in 1970. Connie worked at Pathology Medical Services/St. Elizabeth Community Health Center in Lincoln, specializing in outpatient/clinic services from 1971-1979. She also served as an adjunct professor with the chemistry department at Nebraska Wesleyan University. While living in Lincoln, Connie was the Editor of the Nebraska Society of Medical Technology newsletter “The Filter” from 1976 until 1979. The Filter publication won first place in the ASMT (American Society for Medical Technology) Publication Awards in 1977. She attended several educational workshops and seminars traveling to Hawaii, San Francisco, Georgia, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado. In 1978, Connie received the Medical Tech of the Year Award from the Lancaster Society of Medical Technologists. She also received the Omicron Sigma award, the American Society for Medical Technology President’s Honor Roll for Outstanding Service. Connie pursued her Master’s Degree from Central Michigan University in Healthcare Management and Supervision and graduated in 1983.

Connie later moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, in 1979 and started working at St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center. She married Bob Bower and made her home with him in Grand Junction. Connie submitted her official retirement from the hospital in May 2014 after more than 30 years of service. She was a long time member of the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Connie enjoyed her work in Colorado and so many of her friends and co-workers at the hospital.
Connie enjoyed traveling and seeing many of the world’s treasures. She traveled to Europe and St. Petersburg, Russia, and made several trips to Florida and Mexico. Connie enjoyed driving to Vail and Aspen for day trips. She liked taking her family and friends to the ski lodge, car museum, wineries, and fruit orchards. There was nothing better than fresh peaches in Grand Junction!
Connie loved her pets and had several pets throughout the years. Her dogs would often travel with her to Spencer when she would come to see family and friends. She enjoyed coming to Spencer and would always come in May/June for her mother’s birthday. Connie never missed an anniversary or birthday of close friends and relatives. She enjoyed researching family history and Ellis Island.

Connie is survived by her mother, Rose Pecena, Butte, Nebraska; her brother, Doug Johnson and sister-in-law Connie Johnson of Spencer, Nebraska; nephew, Troy Johnson and wife Liz Johnson of Spencer, Nebraska; and niece, Sheila Martin (Johnson) and husband Trent Martin of South Sioux City, Nebraska. Connie enjoyed her great nieces and nephew and never missed an opportunity to send them something special, especially holiday dresses for her great nieces. Her great nephew and nieces include: Deegan Johnson, Mazee Johnson, Miri Johnson, and Sammi Martin.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bert Johnson; and late husband, Bob Bower.

Because of Connie’s love for animals and pets, we ask that in lieu of flowers or memorials that donations be sent to the Roice-Hurst Humane Society, P.O. Box 4040, Grand Junction, CO 81502.