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							 Service:   
							A private ceremony will be held for immediate family 
							at a later date.  
							
							Funeral home: 
							Peasley Funeral Home, Lincoln       
							Obituary 
							Jerry E. Bowns, 75, of Lincoln, 
							passed away on February 14, 2023, at St. John’s 
							Hospital in Springfield.  
							 
							A private ceremony will be held for immediate family 
							at a later date.  
							 
							Jerry was born in Lincoln on June 28, 1947, the 
							eldest of four sons born to Wayne Franklin Bowns and 
							Bertie Lou Downing.  
							 
							He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Cince Busby 
							Bowns, sons Nathan and Andrew, and daughter Aubrey. 
							Also surviving are his mother, Bertie Lou and two 
							brothers, Don and Paul. Jerry has four 
							grandchildren: Elizabeth, Wayne, Katie, and Liam.
							 
							 
							Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Wayne, 
							and his younger brother Steve.  
							 
							Jerry attended Atlanta High School and graduated in 
							1965. He was active in FFA all four years of high 
							school and served as Reporter and Vice President. He 
							was the class President of his Freshman class. Jerry 
							participated in track, basketball, and baseball. 
							Baseball was his favorite, and he was an amazing 
							pitcher. He was also a member of the A-Club all 4 
							years of high school. 
							 
							In 1965, Jerry enlisted in the US 
							Navy. He served five years in the Navy and completed 
							four tours in Viet Nam aboard the USS Stoddard as a 
							radarman. He was discharged in 1970.   | 
							
							 
                
                  
							
							  
							Jerry’s occupation was an 
							over-the-road trucker. He loved the freedom of the 
							open road working for Garland Gehrke Trucking.  
							 
							Jerry loved to camp, fish, hunt, watch John Wayne 
							movies, and was an avid reader. His love of reading 
							was passed on to some of his children and 
							grandchildren. Jerry is missed, especially by his 
							grandchildren, all of whom at one time or another 
							lived with him.  
							 
							Memorials may be made to Central Illinois Veteran’s 
							Commission. 
							 
							Peasley Funeral Home of Lincoln is assisting the 
							family with arrangements. 
							 
            
            				
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