Rodney Bowen
January 7, 1956 ~ August 25, 2026
Rodney Lee Bowen, 70, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Monday, August 24, 2026, peacefully at home.
Rod was born on January 7, 1956, in St. John’s, Michigan to Ronald Eugene and Jennielee (Wilber) Bowen. Much of Rod’s childhood was spent in Texas, until the family moved back north and put down roots in Kendallville, Indiana. A talented student with a sharp analytical mind, Rod attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where he majored in electrical engineering. After college, Rod moved to Cedar Rapids, to work at Rockwell Collins. Rod spent his entire career at Collins. A gifted problem-solver, Rod worked at many departments at Rockwell but spent most of his career designing and managing test equipment and systems for specialized aviation electronics.
Rod was exceedingly generous with his time and energy. For almost 30 years, Rod and his good friend, Mark Hepworth, designed and built sets for Xavier High School theater productions. Designing and constructing theater sets were both a technical and creative outlet for Rod, and their sets routinely featured clever construction alongside Rod’s own artwork.
A creative problem-solver at heart, Rod loved puzzles and games. He spent many holidays working on jigsaw puzzles, and chess and Sudoku were favorite pastimes. But his true passion was spending time with those he cared about. He was willing to do even the most difficult task for loved ones. Rod was quick to laugh.
Rod was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bruce Bowen. He is survived by his daughter, Jennielee (Jason) Cordes of Cedar Rapids; his son, Daniel (Elissa) Bowen, of Ewing, New Jersey; grandchildren, Cole (Toby) Cordes and Rowyn Cordes of Cedar Rapids; and Emry Bowen and Samuel Bowen of Ewing, New Jersey; and siblings, Gordon (Joyce) Bowen, Susan Bowen, and Kathy (Curt) Alleshouse, all of Kendallville, Indiana.
Visitation and funeral services will be held Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will take place from 9:30 – 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Educational Theatre Foundation at https://foundation.schooltheatre.org/.
Broadcast Date:
Services
Visitation:
Saturday, September 5, 2026
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services - Cedar Rapids
1844 1st Ave. NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
319-362-2147
info@stewartbaxter.com
Memorial Service:
Saturday, September 5, 2026
11:00 am
Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services - Cedar Rapids
1844 1st Ave. NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
319-362-2147
info@stewartbaxter.com
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The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Rodney Bowen 's name.
Educational Theatre Foundation
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Remembering Rod
I first met Rod in the spring of 1999. My eldest son was in the Xavier production of Brigadoon and invited me to come to Xavier to help work on the set. I had never been backstage in a theater and had no idea what I was walking into. I was introduced to Rod and was given my first assignment, to hang a musket on a wall above a fireplace. From that humble beginning, grew a 28 year long friendship spanning 68 Xavier productions, 10 different directors, and thousands of student interactions.
Rod was very generous with his time and talents and was always willing to provide a helping hand and take on new projects when asked. Along the way we worked on numerous special projects for teachers and staff, helped the janitorial staff when shorthanded, and doing general theater maintenance and upkeep.
Rod often said that if he hadn’t been an engineer, he would have been an artist. Actually, Rod was a quirky mix of engineer, architect, and artist; and he loved the theater. Because of his mix of interests and skills, he had the ability start from a script and a pile of wood and screws and see a finished, functioning set that was the equal of many Broadway productions. Over the years, as our relationship developed, we each found our areas of expertise; he provided me with the sketches and drawings for items to build and then he would focus on the artistic components and final touches that would bring the set alive. He also loved to tinker with the minute details in special set pieces such as the Cinderella galloping horses, the intricate costumes for Beauty and the Beast, and detailed painting and lettering or many set pieces.
Over the years, we have worked with great people, staff, students, and parents. It is mostly the students that kept us going – we have both said on many occasions that we do it for the students. While that is true, we also did it because we are engineers and we love seeing the things we create get used in a positive, productive way for the betterment and enjoyment of others. And in Rod’s case, when you mix in architect and artist you get a truly unique combination of talent, capability, work ethic, and passion that he loved to share with others and especially the students.
Rod was one of a kind. We were blessed to have him for the time that we did. My favorite words to describe Rod include, engineer, artist, teacher, talented, optimistic, occasionally a procrastinator, hardworking, focused, and generous. And yes, he was definitely a bit quirky, but overall he was a great friend, and I miss him dearly.
Mark Hepworth
Well said, Mark. You have both been a constant presence at Xaver and everyone who has been associated with theater there has been in awe of your work. Rest in Peace, Rod.
I met Rod in high school around 1970, and we became close friends through high school, college, and the years that followed. After college, Rod invited me to visit him in Cedar Rapids and suggested that while I was there, I interview with Rockwell Collins. I thought, “Why not?” That interview led me to move to Cedar Rapids, where I spent the rest of my career. In that way, Rod had a lasting impact on the direction of my life.
Rod was smart, wise, and perceptive. More than once, he held me accountable to do what was right and to live my life consistently with God’s Word. He also led me to a church where I was taught God’s Word, something for which I will always be grateful.
Over the years, Rod and I worked on many projects together. He was always the artistic talent and the visionary, willing to take on challenges that required a remarkable variety of skills and creativity.
I greatly valued Rod’s friendship and the influence he had on my life, and I will miss him. I am especially sorry that I will not be able to attend Rod’s funeral service, as it is at the same time that I will be attending my dad’s service.
James Young