Jeffrey L. Bower (54) of Effingham

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Published on January 9 2020 7:01 am

Jeffrey L. Bower age 54 of Effingham passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at his home.

Funeral services celebrating Jeff’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 11 at the Crain Funeral Home, Newton with Pastor Tom Matson officiating. Visitation will be held from 12 noon, Saturday until time of service in the funeral home. Burial will be in the Honey Cemetery, Bogota, Illinois. Memorial gifts in honor of Jeff may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or to the Easterseals.

Jeff was born on March 23, 1965 in Effingham, Illinois the son of Sonny and Carol (Bailey) Bower. Jeff worked for Ryder Systems, St. Elmo in the maintenance department. As an avid sports fan, he enjoyed watching sports on television. His favorites included NASCAR, the Dallas Cowboys and his number one team, the Chicago Cubs. He enjoyed gardening and raising tomatoes. Jeff loved to laugh and to make others laugh. From his stories, jokes or the singing of “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” three months too early, he kept his many friends and family in stitches.

Jeff will be loved and remembered by his son Rick (Brandy) Bower of Hutsonville, IL; daughter Tasha (Billy) Owens of Arkansas; parents Sonny and Carol Bower of Newton; girlfriend Joann Rilenge of Effingham and her children Austin Ference and Kayla Ruffner; grandchildren Jaden, Maddox, Elaina, Kenslee and Kingston Bower, Noah, Ryleigh and Jacob Owens and Avery Christian, Axel and Ledger; sisters Kim (Rick) Goss of Oblong and Misty (Rick) Nussmeyer of West Salem.

His grandparents, Henry and Roberta Bower and Delbert and Wanda Bailey, preceded him in death.

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