Sterling Nelson Bowers, 83, of Burwell, Nebraska died January 19, 2020 at the Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 – 7 p.m. at Hitchcock Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 23, 2020 at the First Christian Church. Burial will be at Cottonwood Cemetery, all in Burwell, Nebraska. Pastor JB Sikes and Pastor AB Cox will officiate. Memorials are suggested to the family.
Sterling was born March 27, 1936 north of Burwell on the family ranch in Garfield County, Nebraska to Samuel and Geneva (Nelson) Bowers. Sterling grew up on the ranch, played football in high school and was a golden gloves boxer. He graduated from Burwell High School in 1953.
Sterling married Renee’ Carpenter on June 1, 1957. They ranched north of Burwell and were heavily involved in the rodeo world. Sterling was a member of the Nebraska State Rodeo Association (NSRA) and the Mid States Rodeo Association (MSRA). Sterling and Renee had three children, Twila, Teresa and Jay.
Sterling married Maxine Schamp on March 10, 1972. Maxine brought a cute little brown eyed girl into the family. Sterling and Maxine had two daughters, Brenda and Holly. Sterling’s successful rodeo career spanned from 1956 to his age of 56. He was also a judge for multiple rodeo associations. In 2015 he was inducted into the Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame for his rodeo accomplishments. Sterling worked at the Burwell Livestock Market as a teenager along with his father, and continued there for another fifty years.
Sterling enjoyed his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Most of all he enjoyed watching them compete in various competitions they are involved in. Sterling also enjoyed dancing, his yearly birthday party and playing cards.
Sterling is survived by six children; Twila (Rex Meier of Council Hill, Oklahoma), Teresa Patrick (Mark Duffek of Dwight, Nebraska), Jay (Sheila Bowers of Clovis, New Mexico), Katy Petree (Vern Werner of Petersburg, Nebraska), Brenda Bowers and Holly Bowers both of Dunning, Nebraska. Grandchildren, great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Sterling was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Delmar Bowers and a sister, Darlene Larsen.
