John Raymond Bouwman passed away on June 24, 2023 in St Marie’s Idaho at the age of 83. He was born Nov 13 1939 to Dick Bouwman and Sadie Stremler Bouwman on the family farm in Lynden.
John attended Lynden Christian Schools, graduating in 1957 from LCHS.
John moved to Alaska in 1961 and attended University of Alaska in Fairbanks. He lived in Lynden, Everson, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Kenaii, and Juneau Alaska before settling in St. Maries, Idaho in 1994.
John moved to St. Maries in 1994. He drove school bus for St. Maries from 1996 until his retirement in 2013. And was also a part-time mechanic for St. Maries School District.
He was a member of the Eagles in St. Maries, where he held many offices and helped establish a scholarship program for graduating seniors of St. Maries High School.
He spent many years singing barbershop in Idaho and Alaska.
Preceded in death by his parents Dick and Sadie Bouwman, Brothers Frank (Jackie), Sidney, and sister Bernice Mouw. Survived by daughter Carrie Bouwman Rains of Tennessee, seven grandchildren, daughters Mary Bouwman and Melinda Bouwman. His “Idaho” daughter Missy Brudeseth and husband Dennis of St. Maries, sisters Louise Fox, Anacortes, Grace Hayes and Gretta Bouwman, Lynden, brothers Richard and Katie Bouwman, Everson, and Douglas and Diane Bouwman, Bellingham, sister-in-law Doris Bouwman, Lynden, and 25 nieces and nephews and many many more family and friends here and in St. Maries, Idaho.
A Celebration of John’s Life was held on Aug. 19 in St Maries, Idaho.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday Sept 16 at 2 p.m. at the Hetterly Pavilion at the Puget Sound Antique Tractor Show Grounds at Berthusen Park, Lynden. Come join us for coffee, cookies and remembering John.
