Mark G. Bower

MARK G. BOWERAge 51 of North Aurora, passed away Thursday, July 24, 2008 at Rush-Copley Hospital, Aurora following a prolonged battle with cancer. Mark was born October 16, 1956 in Geneva, IL. He was a 1974 graduate of West Aurora High School. Those who knew Mark knew him to be an avid reader and especially fond of authors like Steven King, Dean Koontz and Mickey Spillane – the more horrific, the better! On the lighter side, Mark had a "Far Side" sense of humor that enjoyed the comics and the Marx Brothers to name a few. That same sense of humor laid nic-names on family and friends with handles like Shorty, Red, Mutt and Bones. Perhaps that was part of the "kid" that lived forever in Mark and was part of the reason he resonated with his nieces and nephews and little kids anywhere.When his son, Justin, was growing up, Mark coached Little League and was a life long White Sox fan. He loved to ride bikes with Justin and back home, he enjoyed a good game of pool or Cribbage with friends. When it came to music, B.B. King and the Blues was the groove for Mark. There was nothing quite as simply relaxing as sitting back with good music, a good brat and a beer. Mark was, in fact, the undisputed King of the Grill when it came to cooking ribs and brats. He was the man-in-demand whenever friends and family gathered for a summer party. Good eats with a kick, were his specialty.When stricken with cancer almost three years ago, Mark battled with a spirit that even impressed his doctors. Yet, when they had done all they could do and he had faced it all with courage, he let go with love and classic Mark Bower candor that left his family at peace. Remembered forever with love, and yes, good humor, Mark leaves his son, Justin C. R. Bower of North Aurora;Justin’s mother and step-father, Lisa and Kevin Beamish of Aurora;Lisa’s four daughters, Juli Rosenberg of Atlanta, GA, Sarah Jones of Aurora, IL, Erin Joseph of Addison, IL and HM2 Beth Hanchar of the U.S. Navy;His parents, Don and Donna Vee Bower of North Aurora;And Three siblings:Debra Bower-Watling (Keith Watling) of Wauwatosa, WI,Tony (Belinda ) Bower of Chillicothe, MO andLisa Beth (Doug) Kohout of North Aurora;Mark was a proud uncle to Megan Watling of Wauwatosa, WI;Lynn and Otis Howard of Hilo, HI and their children, Julia, Justice and Leilani; Laura Lisby of Laredo, MO and her children, Morgan, Emily and Madeleine; as well as John S. Lisby II of Chillicothe, MO and his daughter, Leda Mae.MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Mark’s name. Memorials checks may be made to the Mark Bower Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com.

Memorial visitation will be held at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, Monday, July 28, 2008 from 2-7:30pm with a memorial service beginning at 8pm.Lynn Cate, Pastoral Elder of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference will officiate.

A private, family cremation interment ceremony will be held at South Burlington Cemetery.