Irwin Bowlby

Irwin L. 'Buddy' Bowlby, 77, of Pekin, passed away at 3:46 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2014, at Pekin Hospital. He was born Sept. 21, 1937, in Pekin to Irwin E. and Mollie Rocki Bowlby.Buddy is survived by one Brother, James 'Jimmy' Bastian, one Aunt, Doris Bowlby both of Pekin. He also leaves many family and friends to cherish his memory in Wisconsin, Nebraska and Illinois including friends, Mark and Linda Bond, Anna Belczyk all of Germantown Hills, IL and John Papich of Chillicothe, IL.He was preceded in death by his parents, one Aunt, Fran Rocki and one Uncle, Ingersoll Bowlby. Buddy worked in the Pekin Hospital Purchasing Department for 20 years.He later worked as a Machinist for Caterpillar Inc. in Mossville, IL for 26 years. He was a member of the Joy for Jesus Lutheran Church for the Deaf of Jacksonville, IL; The UAW Local 974 in East Peoria, IL and he was an avid Chicago CUB's fan. On July 29, 1992, Buddy was admitted to the HALL OF FAME of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, for his exceptional service to the society and involvement in the community activities. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, at Henderson Funeral Home and Crematory 2131 Velde Drive, Pekin, IL.Rev. Terry Newman and Sign Language Interpreter Anne Stewart will officiate.Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.Interment will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin, IL. Memorial contributions may be directed to The Pekin Police Foundation for future Disaster Relief, because of the disaster experienced by Pekin and Buddy on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013.Or contributions may be directed to the Joy for Jesus Lutheran Church of the Deaf, 104 Finley St., Jacksonville, IL 62650. Cemetery Glendale Memorial Gardens 18119 Illinois Route 9 Pekin,IL 61554 Service Wednesday, October 1, 2014 1:00 PM delete Pekin,IL 61554 Visitation Wednesday, October 1, 2014 11:00 AM - 12:45 PM delete Pekin,IL 61554