Michael John Bowen

Obituary for Michael John Bowen

Beloved father, husband. friend and colleague Michael John Bowen passed peacefully in his home at sunrise on October 31st 2026 in Boulder, CO surrounded by his wife, Joanne Bowen and his daughter, Rachael Bowen. Born in an underground tube station on June 22, 1942 during a WWII bombing of London, England to Daniel Bowen II and Irene Tucker, Mike was a true citizen of the world.

As a young boy, he immigrated to the United States with his parents and shortly after, the family moved to Kingston, Jamaica. At 16 years old, he traveled Europe on a bus by himself and attended a Jesuit high school in Canada. While living in Florida, he joined the United States Air Force at 18 as a medic which took him on a tour to Africa during the Congo Crisis. After the Air Force, he joined the Army where he became a Special Forces Green Beret. Upon his return from military service, he studied and completed a degree in Philosophy at the University of Florida.

A consummate admirer of literature, theater, music and fine arts, Mike moved to Washington DC in the mid 60's where he opened a head shop in Georgetown called The Elysian Fields. He sold beads, books, papers, old theater costumes, records, local artists work and other treasures. In the early 1960's, he moved himself and The Elysian Fields to Boulder, CO - the shop was near Boulder High School. He met Stephen Stills of CSN during this time and soon became his personal manager as well as a producer on the road with the band. He traveled the world touring, managing the band, collecting rare books and listening to some of the greatest musicians of the time for the next ten years. While recording at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, CO, Mike met his wife Joanne Rocconi in 1976. They were married December 26, 1979 in Longmont, CO at the Ryssby Church during a two-foot snowstorm.

Mike and Joanne had two children, Daniel and Rachael. Mike continued his entrepreneurial inclination throughout the 80's, 90's and 00's and worked in natural gas exploration and production in Southwest Colorado and Eastern Montana. He was also a passionate martial artist and taught Kid's Aikido classes for 15 years at Boulder Aikikai, taking countless kids under his kind yet strict tutelage. The traveling spirit never left him; trips to Kauai, Maui, Italy, the Southwest, France and England were as frequent as possible and always included an art museum or historically significant visit. He enriched the lives of those around him simply by sharing a story or insight about an artist, painting or a bit of history.

A dedicated father, husband, brother and uncle, Michael John was an incredible man who lived an incredible life. He is survived by his wife, Joanne Bowen, daughter Rachael Bowen as well as by his darling sister, Susan Wiley, loved in-laws, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his son, Daniel Bowen III, his sister, Patrice Swinglehurst and his parents Irene Tucker and Daniel Bowen II as well as every one of his beloved dogs from Big Daddy to Little One. He will be missed and celebrated every day.