Margaret “Marty” Bowman

Margaret ‘Marty’ Bowman, 95, of Marshalltown, fulfilled her final mission and entered God’s mercy, which she so often gave to others on the evening of Saturday, July 19, 2025 at the Iowa River Hospice Home surrounded by her loving family. 

A Mass of Christian Burial for Marty was held Wednesday, July 23 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish: St. Mary Church where she had been a member for over 50 years. Marty will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cemetery in St. Anthony, Iowa. 

Margaret Ann Johnson was born July 17, 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska. She was the third of six children born to Fred and Gertrude (Gleason) Johnson. She grew up in Omaha where she attended school St. Bernards School and graduated from Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in 1947. Marty furthered her education at Duchesne College where she received her Bachelors Degree in English in 1951. At this time, she began her teaching career in Logan, Iowa while attending Creighton University where she would receive her Master’s Degree in 1954. 

On July 5, 1958, Marty was united in marriage to Bob Bowman in Omaha, Nebraska. Marty taught English and French at the high school and college levels. She and Bob began a family raising four children, James, John, Jeanne-Marie and Mary Kay. Throughout her teaching career, Marty taught at Anson Junior High, Lenihan Catholic High, Marshalltown Community College and BCLUW, among many others in the greater Marshalltown area. 

Outside of school, Marty was active at St. Mary Catholic Church in Marshalltown. She was a member of the Altar and Rosary society, served as a eucharistic minister and lector and commentator. Marty became a Mercy Associate, pledging support to the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids supporting their mission, ministries and spirituality. She volunteered as an election official and precinct judge in numerous elections and was an active member of the Marshall County Democrats, the League of Woman Voters and House of Compassion. At her retirement from teaching, Marty served as the director of the Central Iowa Art Association and taught ESL and Citizenship classes to those in the Marshalltown area. Her true passion was helping others in any way that she was able. Outside of her volunteer work, she traveled extensively with family and was a voracious reader,  notably starting the first book club for the Marshalltown Y.

Those left to remember and cherish her memory are her children, James Bowman of Jacksonville, Oregon, John (Terry Sue) Bowman of Leesburg, Virgina, Jeanne-Marie (Hubert Frach) Bowman of Lakeway, Texas and Mary Kay Bowman of Seattle, Washington; her grandchildren, Hannah Bowman, Isabel Bowman, Felice Frach and Lennart Frach; siblings, Dick Johnson, Gertrude “Sis” Fowler and Marie Claire Owen. Additionally, Marty is survived by her sister-in-law, Ruth Ann Gibb and numerous nieces and nephews and countless great-nieces and nephews. 

In Eternal Life, Marty is rejoined with her husband Bob Bowman; her parents, Fred and Gertrude Johnson and her siblings, George Johnson and Dr. John “Jay” Johnson.

Memorials in Marty’s name may be directed to her family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to her family, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.