Effingham
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, 2020 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.
Online condolences may be offered at www.crainfuneral.com.
