Larry Bowerman

Larry Bowerman was a wonderful person to know and love. He was a man of many special interests, yet it was evident in every way that his family and friends meant the most to him. His generous and compassionate ways will forever be remembered by all who knew and loved him.

The 1940s were characterized by WWII. By 1947, some of the most significant inventions that would impact lives for many years were created, including the Transistor and the Mobile Phone. That same year, Larry was born to a set of hard-working parents on March 21st in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Born the third child in a family of four, his birth brought his parents great joy.

Growing up, Larry lived a typical childhood of the times his nickname then was “King”. By the time he was in fourth grade, the family had moved to Holland. Larry was known as the upbeat brother and was especially close to his siblings. He was active and on the go and enjoyed playing baseball and football during his school years. A proud graduate of the Class of 1965 from Parchment High School, Larry could succeed at anything he set his mind to accomplish. After graduation, he moved up north to attend Northern Michigan University before landing back in Kalamazoo to join the local police force. His true calling was to work in law enforcement. Larry found great satisfaction in supporting his community as a police officer. During this time, he had two beautiful children, Glen and Nahbee. Though the marriage ended in divorce, he was ever grateful for his two wonderful children.

As a dad, he was always supportive. Larry worked hard to support his two young children and enjoyed attending their sporting events. When the children were young, Larry volunteered to coach his son’s baseball and basketball teams. He was caring, yet could be stern. Larry instilled in them many of life’s valuable lessons, including the importance of family. Being a full-time single father was difficult; he dedicated himself to his children and their needs. The sacrifices that he made were immeasurable and his son Glen looked to his father as his hero.

He met Sharon Ferguson, and they became good friends and married on September 1, 2000, in Gatlinburg at the Little Log Chapel. Over the years, they enjoyed many vacations to Tennessee, including golfing at Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Fairfield Glade. They built a beautiful life together. Larry modeled for his children the ability to enjoy the good things in life. He was always very encouraging and wanted nothing but the best for his family.

Larry enjoyed a simple life. He loved to surround himself with family and friends. After retiring from Kalamazoo Public Safety, he worked for 15 years at the Driving Academy in Lawton, where he gave driving tests. Dependable and patient with the students, he was often requested for lessons due to his reputation. Larry was an avid golfer and a lifetime member of Heritage Glen, where he won club champion. His friends even referred to him as “under-par-lar”. He also loved being outdoors. Many days were spent cutting wood to prepare for heating his home in the winter. This was hard work, but he enjoyed the vigorous demands of cutting and stacking the wood. He also loved deer hunting each fall. Even when he wasn't successful, Larry still deemed it a good season.

An active member at Texas Corners Bible Church, Larry enjoyed being head of security and had a great relationship with Pastor David Thompson. Always looking to support his community, he was also a member of both the Schoolcraft Eagles and the Schoolcraft American Legion. Larry was content doing anything to show his compassion for helping others.

Larry was a loyal friend to many of his fellow officers, including his good friend, Jim Wyrick. He was known to attend countless funerals to support his friends and their families. Soft-hearted and empathetic, he truly cared about the lives of others. Larry was exceptionally warm and loving and will surely be missed. His greatest legacy that he leaves behind is the family and friends he loved so deeply. He taught his family through example and was extremely protective of his family and friends. He believed in the value of punctuality and was sure to remind his children that actions always speak louder than words. He had a sweet tooth and whenever anyone got in his car they would surely find an open bag of Werther’s caramel candies.

May we always cherish the special memories shared with him, and may they never doubt how much they meant to Larry.

Larry Bowerman died on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Rose Arbor Hospice. He was born on March 21, 1947, in Grand Rapids, MI, to Lawrence and Bette Bowerman and worked for Kalamazoo Public Safety for 26 years before retiring in 1995. He was preceded in death by his stepson, Mike Lampe. Surviving are his wife Sharon; his 2 children: Glen Bowerman, Nahbee (Micah) Heerdt; 2 grandchildren: Summer and Merrick; 3 siblings: Ronald, Paula, Darlene Bowerman; 2 stepchildren: Jason (Tracy) Ferguson, Justin (Lisa) Ferguson, 3 step grandchildren: Aria, Xander, Rogue; and Stepson Tom Lampe.

Services will be at 11 AM on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Texas Corners Bible Church, 7780 S 8th Street, Kalamazoo, 49009. The family will receive friends one hour before the service and at lunch immediately following in the church’s fellowship hall. Celebrate Larry’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Wounded Warrior Project or Thin Blue Line. Special thanks to Centrica Care Navigators and the staff at Rose Arbor for their wonderful care of Larry. Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900.