HAWKEYE — Tracy Lee Bowling, 50, of Hawkeye, died Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at his home.
A Celebration of Life will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 26, at the Rec Center, 810 N. Pine St. in West Union.
Born August 9, 1976, in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Tracy was the son of Lillard and Della (Flynn) Bowling. He attended school in Odessa, Missouri, and later continued his education through trade schools, beginning a working life that would eventually take him into the railroad industry and other demanding jobs.
Tracy spent many years working for the railroad before beginning a lengthy career as a supervisor at Transco. More recently, he worked at Pipestone.
Away from work, Tracy was the kind of man who liked having something to do. He enjoyed working around his yard and could often be found fixing cars. Music was another important part of his life, and he especially enjoyed going to concerts. He also liked playing video games.
But the center of Tracy’s world was his family.
Seventeen years ago, Tracy met Patricia Allan, and the two built a life together in Hawkeye. Their relationship lasted nearly two decades, and family members said Tracy’s greatest happiness came from spending time with the people closest to him.
He is survived by his longtime companion, Patricia Allan of Hawkeye; daughters Payton Allan, at home, and Elexis Bowling of Dubuque; brothers Charles “Joe” Kilgore and his wife, Concepcion, of Converse, Texas, and Lillard Bowling Jr. of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Tracy also leaves behind nieces and nephews Esther and Robert Thomas, Davy Conwell, Della Conwell, Billy Conwell, Darrell Conwell, Linda Conwell, Joshua and Heaven McCartney, Rusty McCartney, Lola Sterne and Ashley Sterne.
His extended family includes Patricia’s mother, Robin and Bob Wilt of Arena, Wisconsin, along with Patricia’s sisters, Sandra and Scott Pierce of Fennimore, Wisconsin, and Jessica and Justin Sterne of Clarksville, Missouri.
Tracy was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, William Conwell; and Patricia’s brother-in-law, Dustin McCartney.
Messages left after his death reflect the affection people had for Tracy, with friends and relatives remembering him as someone whose absence will be deeply felt and whose friendship and generosity left lasting memories.
Those wishing to read the family’s complete obituary or share a remembrance may visit the official tribute page for Tracy Lee Bowling through Becker & Son Funeral Homes.
For those who knew him best, Tracy’s story will be remembered through the ordinary things that meant the most to him — working with his hands, tending his yard, repairing cars, listening to music, heading to a concert, relaxing with a video game and, most importantly, spending time with the family he loved.
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