Obituary of Marilyn Jo Lavan

We are saddened to announce the passing of our dear mother Marilyn Jo Lavan (83) in Tucson AZ Wednesday July 21.  Marilyn was born on December 7, 1937 in Alpena Michigan to Walter and Helen Andres.

Upon graduating high school she and a friend said good bye to family and friends and headed to Minneapolis on a Greyhound bus to attend travel school.  Shortly thereafter she moved to Chicago where she worked for Eastern Airlines.  Later she was licensed to become an insurance broker/agent and enjoyed being a business owner with her late husband John Bowman, who preceded her in death.  She continued to run this business for the remainder of her life.  Together they enjoyed traveling the world through their second business Places II Travel.  Many weekends they could be found planting flowers in their garden at their lake front home.  She and her late husband were loyal Northwestern football fans and enjoyed season tickets with family and friends and rooting for their “Wildcats”.  She also was an avid dog lover and shared her life with several lovable pooches throughout her life. 

Marilyn is predeceased by her parents, Walter and Helen, and her husband, John Bowman. She is a loving mother to Cindy Chapman (Rod), Sue Haeger (Barry), JT Lavan (Dee Dee), David Bowman (deceased), Christopher Bowman (Geri), Lisa Meyer (Greg), dearest grandmother to Shannon, Jammie, Kalie, Dusty and Derek, great grandmother to Dylan and Levi and fur mother to her lovable doggie, Trixie.

Marilyn had so many dear friends and she would often get together with “the girls” and go to the theater, lunches or special get togethers at Sam’s or Palm Court.  She was loved by all and we will miss her terribly.

Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on Wednesday August 11^th at 1pm.

Interment private: Abraham Lincoln National VA Cemetery in Elwood, IL

In lieu of flowers please make donation to American Cancer Society or SPCA. She loved animals.