Wilma "Bowman" Jean Krzesnik

Wilma Jean, or “Tootsie” as she was called by her older siblings, was born September 20, 1930 in Clinton, Oklahoma. She was the seventh of nine children born to Minnie Viola (Stewart) and Barney T. Bowman. Five of the nine children survived to adulthood. The four that passed on early died of the common ailments and diseases that took so many babies, toddlers, and youngsters in the twenties and thirties, and most especially for families living in rural areas so far from doctors and medical facilities. Barney and his twin brother Benny, along with their father, Joe, were dry land farmers near Clinton when the dust bowl era struck the Midwest. By 1934, there was nothing left to sustain their livelihood. Grandfather Joe had committed suicide and Uncle Benny had run away leaving Barney to care for his family. They had butchered their last mule and with the continuing dust and wind wiping out any hope of a fall planting, Barney and Minnie loaded what was left of their possessions and two mattresses onto their Model T, with four children in tow, and headed for Wilder, Idaho in September of 1934. Barney and Minnie’s oldest daughter, Sybil, and her husband, J.D. Morris, were living in Wilder at the time and assured Barney there was work available as soon as he could get there. Their long and arduous trip to Idaho tells of many memories of camping out on the side of the road and many mechanical breakdowns and flat tires. As they neared the Marsing/Homedale area, the old Model T spun a rod bearing in the motor so Barney used a bacon rind and cut it to fit the crankshaft, put it back together and it ran for a few more precious miles. When they reached Garman Hill and were backing up the hill (the Model T had a gravity fed carburetor, and if the tank was low on gas, it would not run), the bacon rind gave out. It seems their perseverance and faith paid off because at that particular moment in time, along came a member of the Batt family from Wilder and pulled them on to Wilder. He also offered Barney the much needed work they had traveled the many, many miles to find. Like so many other displaced dust bowlers who came before and after them, this area we call the Treasure Valley today was to become a treasured place. Finally, a home and a future for the many that had lost everything but hope! In 1939, the Bowman family left Idaho and tried to establish a better life for their kids in California, but after months of low wages and having to live in a tin temporary shelter that would be so hot when they came in from the fields at night they would have to cool the building down with a garden hose before they could go inside, Barney and Minnie decided to return to Idaho and resolved to make it work out. The Bowmans arrived in Wilder again and would continue to make the Wilder and Homedale area their home for the rest of their lives. One more child, Doris Arlene, was born in Idaho in 1936. She succumbed to pneumonia on August 23, 1937. Wilma was schooled in Wilder along with her siblings and they continued their journey into adulthood. Wilma married Charles Henry Short on July 2, 1945 and one son, Rickey Wayne, was born on April 18, 1946. Always in a hurry to get on the road, he was born in the back seat of the neighbor’s car on the way to the old hospital in Caldwell! Wilma later married Johnie Shanley in 1947 and a daughter, Donni Lynn, was born on January 12, 1951. They were divorced in 1962. Wilma and John Krzesnik were married in 1963 and a son, Darren John was born on April 20, 1965. Their daughter, Kerry Ann, was born on May 27, 1969. John and Wilma spent the next 20 plus years going to many (VERY MANY) football, volleyball, basketball and baseball games, maybe too many to count, watching Darren and Kerry play ball. If there was a ball game, they were there. They, along with the Mattesons (Frank and Wanda), the Kubosumis (Roy and Jan), the Maxwells (Chuck and Wanda), and the Nashes (Rodger and Ardis) kept very busy watching games, swimming and boating at Warm Lake, vacations to theme parks and sporting events throughout the West. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 42 years and her siblings: Sybil Louise Morris born on 2/01/1917 and passing on 11/05/1967; Marvin Edward born on 9/19/1919 and passing on 1/23/1920; Ella Mavine born on 9/17/1920 and passing on 9/22/1920; Ruby Pauline born on 3/1/1922 and passing on 6/22/1923; Vada Juanita Owen born on 6/20/1924 and passing on 2/25/1995; Alvin Wesley born on 8/13/1926 and passing on 2/07/2015; and Doris Arlene born on 4/19/1936 and passing on 8/23/1937. Wilma also lost her twenty-three year old grandson, Randy Wayne Shanley, on June 29, 1990. She is survived by her younger brother, Donnie Leon and his wife, Grace Bowman. Other survivors include her oldest son, Rick (Mil) Shanley. They have three sons: Kurt (Nicole) and their three children: Erika and her daughter, Oaklee Shanley, Brett and Sydnee Shanley; Nick (Jessica) and their twin sons, Reed and Devin Shanley; Kyle (Vanessa) and two children Trent and Kinley Shanley. Her daughter, Donni Lynn Shanley also remains. Her son, Darren (Sherri), and their three children: Trevor Krezesnik, Cortnee (Claudio) and their daughter, Gabby Garcia, and Hayden Krzesnik. Her daughter Kerry has two sons: Emmet and Elias Hibbs. Wilma loved her Jonny and grieved deeply after his untimely death in 2005. Eventually, though, she began to enjoy her lunches and dinners out with friends. She especially enjoyed her time with his sister-in-law, Annie Davis, and her life-long friend, Gypsy Jackson. She loved nothing better than good old fashioned home-cooked meals at family gatherings with as many family members as possible attending. She treasured her trips spending time with her California family. She loved going to church and the fellowship she received with her “church” family. She loved all her family and always wanted the very best for them. Mom kept track of all the birthdays for all twenty-two of us and always made sure there was a gift or a card with money. She was so excited about Cortnee and Claudio’s baby coming in December and Nick and Jess’s due in January. She tried to keep up on birthdays for all her nieces and nephews, too, and would mention them all during her visits with the rest of us. “Tootsie” to her siblings “Mom” to her kids “Nanna” to her grandchildren and great grandchildren “Aunt Jean” to her many nieces and nephews We will all miss you and hope that you and Jonny K will be peaceful and happy for evermore! In lieu of flowers, Wilma’s family kindly requests that any memorial donations be given to the Mountain View Church of the Nazarene. Their address is: 26515 Ustick Road, Wilder, Idaho 83676. Service Information