Joseph T. Bowler, Jr.

Joseph T. Bowler, Jr. 63, of Holyoke, passed away unexpectedly on November 28, 2022. He was a lifelong Holyoker who loved everything about his hometown, his Irish heritage, his extended group of warm, caring family and friends, and his pet cats.

Joe graduated from Holyoke High School in 1977 and attended Holyoke Community College; he spent the majority of his working career at New England Etching Co. in Holyoke before retiring several years ago due to health issues. Both of his parents, Joseph T. Bowler and Phyllis (Murphy) Bowler predeceased him. Joe lived for many years on Homestead Ave. where he lived with his mother and paid careful, meticulous attention to the pool and lawn at the house; he also annually took his mother down to her Micco, Florida home, where Joe enjoyed golf at the Barefoot Bay golf course. At the time of his passing, ‘Joey-B’ was a resident of Elmwood Towers in Holyoke, where he shared an apartment with his beloved cat, Timmy. 

Joey had a number of interests and participated in a number of activities throughout his life. As a young man he was considered to be easily the fastest kid in the neighborhood and played baseball, football, and hockey. As he grew older, he transferred that love of speed from the fields and rinks to the slopes where he annually had a season pass at the Mt Tom ski area--he loved bombing down the Waterfall and Pump House and Lift Line Slope trails. Joe discovered golf early in his life, and this he did avidly throughout his life with his regular playing partners Bob Lussier, Steve Consedine, Dave Dover, and the late Ed Czerniak. He won a couple of championships in his Thursday night league at East Mountain Golf Club, and even won 4 of the twelve Family Championships which were contested through the 90’s and early 00’s.

Throughout the years Joey rescued a number of cats from the Dakin Center in Springfield, and though he was always loathe to name a favorite--he loved them all unconditionally--his last cat, Timmy, was extra special to him and the two were virtually inseparable: He doted on Timmy and considered him like a son.

Joey had a gregarious personality, and he took great pride in his ability to communicate with all people from all walks of life. Joey was an astute and intelligent conversationalist who took great pride in his large and diverse vocabulary. One of Joey’s favorite sayings was, “We don’t stop laughing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop laughing,” and throughout his life Joey did a lot of laughing--and a lot of people did a lot of laughing with him.

Joe Bowler is survived by his three sisters: Christine (Joe) Dragon of Holyoke, Irene (Greg—deceased) Peterson of Holyoke, and Susan (John) Sarage of South Hadley; two  nieces, Stephanie (Dave) Rummel of Truckee, CA, and Serena Sarage of Lakewood, CO; and three nephews: Brian Lussier of Holyoke, Patrick Dragon (Chelsea Hockman) of Arvada, CO, and Alex Dragon of Holyoke; a grandnephew, Luke Rummel, a grandniece, Riley Rummel, both of Truckee CA, and, of course, his best friend and brother-in-law, Bob Lussier of Holyoke.

The calling hours will be held on Saturday, December 10th from 11:30 - 1:00, followed by a prayer service from 1:00 - 2:00 at Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton St., Holyoke. The burial is private and will be held at a later date at Saint Jerome Cemetery in Holyoke.

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