Marquette––Jeannette S. Bowden, 92, of 819 Spruce Street, Marquette, entered eternal life Sunday afternoon, September 16, 2007, at Marquette General Hospital.
She was born on October 9, 1914 in Bessemer, the daughter of Bert and Jennie (Kitto) Skinnard. A 1932 graduate of the A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer, she was a member of the first class of Ironwood Junior College (now Gogebic Community College), earning an Associate in Arts Degree in June 1934. She transferred to Northern State Teacher’s College (now NMU) in September 1934 and was graduated with honors in June 1936, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Life Certificate. While attending Northern, she worked part-time as a student assistant in the Office of the President, and one month before commencement, was asked to take over the duties as secretary to the president until a permanent replacement could be found. Shortly after, then-president, Webster H. Pearce offered her the position permanently and she began her career as secretary to five successive presidents: Webster H. Pearce, Henry A. Tape, Edgar L. Harden, Ogden E. Johnson, and John X. Jamrich. Her forty-four and one-half year tenure at Northern is longer than any other in the history of the institution. In 1971, Northern honored her by naming her the recipient of the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award. In 1974, she was named Executive Assistant to the President, and on her retirement in November 1980, Northern’s Board of Control awarded her the title of Emeritus Executive Assistant to the President, stating in part in its resolution, “During her forty-six and one-half years of association with her alma mater, she has come – perhaps more than any other individual to reflect its strength, its pride, and its honor, serving as an inspiring example to us all. The years and decades have passed, fashioning the strands of time into a rich fabric of personality, and above all, into a valued friend to all who know her.” Separate resolutions of special tribute from the Eightieth and Eighty-First Legislatures of the State of Michigan presented to her by State Representative D. J. Jacobetti and State Senator Mitch Irwin stated in part, “Mrs. Bowden has excelled throughout her long and illustrious career which provided consistency and continuity in her nearly forty-seven years in the Office of the President where she earned a reputation for efficiency and administrative excellence while maintaining an atmosphere of dedication, friendliness, and compassion. She is clearly a woman with great generosity and devotion who has touched the lives of many.” In the years following her retirement from Northern, she and husband, Floyd, enjoyed having more time to spend at their summer cottage. A lover of music, Mrs. Bowden was an accomplished organist. She underwrote the funding of a Walker Organ which is located in the Reynolds Recital Hall on campus. She was also a strong supporter of Public Television, and underwrote a substantial gift to WNMU-TV and WNMU-FM, with the station’s naming the “Jeannette Bowden Studios” in her honor.
Survivors include a cousin, Ruth Bishop of Marquette; and several friends. Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents, were her brother, Bert; and husband, J. Floyd Bowden, whom she married on February 11, 1943, and who died on August 11, 1997. Mrs. Bowden was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Marquette, the Dorcas Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of Bessemer, the Northern Michigan University Alumni Association, and the Marquette County Humane Society.
Funeral services will be held at the Fassbender Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 19, at 4:00 pm with Rev. Ben Bohnsack officiating. There will be no prior visitation. Entombment will be made at the Northland Chapel Gardens Mausoleum.
Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church, 111 E. Ridge Street, Marquette, MI 49855; the Marquette County Humane Society, 84 Snowfield Road, Negaunee, MI 49866; or WNMU-TV Public TV 13, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855.
Dr. Jamrich, who is retired and living in Florida, said in a statement, “Mrs. Jamrich and I are saddened at the loss of a dear friend and colleague in Jeannette Bowden. Her devotion to Northern over 44 years, and its development from a teacher’s college into a comprehensive university, was unstinting and indeed, legendary. She was a mentor to countless students, and a valued confidant to me and four other presidents.”