BOWLER, Elsie Marie Bowler

December 14, 1932 - October 2, 2025
BOWLER, Elsie Marie Bowler

She was born in Oshawa, Ontario on Dec 14th,1932. She entered into the embrace of her Saviour on October 2nd, 2025, having lived a full life to the age of 92. Her parents were Carl and Ebba Lagerquist, immigrants from Sweden, and she had one sister, Jean, ten years younger than her. When she was 19, she married Arnold David Bowler three years her senior. Arnold and Elsie left Canada to start their career as missionaries in 1955 and spent almost 50 years in Africa with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, serving in Kenya, Uganda and Malawi.

Arnold was known as the lively, energetic one with many stories of Africa, however, everywhere Elsie went she was loved and known for her gentle demeanor. She was the one who held the family together and brought stability amidst the many challenges of serving God in Africa. She was the quiet foundation of the family for her five children, Lynda, Kathryn, Philip (Judy), Stephen (Kathy) and Valerie. She will be welcomed into heaven by her parents and by Jean and Arnold, who have all preceded her. She will be sorely missed by her children and grandchildren Stephen (Melina), Mathias (Leah), David, Amy and Alisa.

A few days before she passed, she started talking of her mother and Jean. When informed that she would soon be seeing them as well as Arnold, she said, “We’ll have to get a big house to fit them all!” She was assured that would not be a problem. It was so characteristic of her, with almost her last breath, to be thinking of others. That was the way she lived and the way she would want to be remembered. We will miss her greatly!

Resting at the ARMSTRONG FUNERAL HOME Oshawa, for Visitation on Friday October 10th from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. & 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Funeral Service to take place at the Trinity Pentecostal Church in Oshawa on Saturday October 11th at 1 p.m. Private family interment at a later date.

Memorial donations are appreciated to the PAOC (The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada), to place online condolences, please visit ARMSTRONG FUNERAL HOME