Ronnie Lee Bowe

Wasilla resident Ronnie Lee Bowe, 39, died May 4, 2011, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

A celebration of life service in honor of Ronnie is at 11 a.m., May 12 at Valley Funeral Home Chapel, 151 E. Herning Ave., Wasilla, with a visitation for family and friends at 10 a.m. prior to the services. Graveside services will follow at Aurora Cemetery with a reception for family and friends after the services at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center.

Ronnie was born May 30, 1971, in Florence, Ariz., the son of Roy John Bowe III and Barbara Ann Barrett.

He loved to rebuild old cars, his computer games and hanging out with his family at Hatcher Pass. His family said Ronnie was a good friend to everybody and his wife, Kristen, said he was her best friend. He loved his girls more than any dad, and admired their intelligence and creativity. He loved his parents endlessly, playing cards with his mom and working on cars with his dad.

His girls, Noel and Melanie, wanted to share what their dad meant to them. Noel said, “He was an amazing person to be around and a great role model. I will never forget him and will always remember the last time I got to hold his hand or the last words we had.”

His daughter Melanie said, “I’ll never forget the things he taught me or the times we spent together. He’ll always be in our thoughts and hearts, looking after us and I’ll always love him. He was the best father that I could have asked for.”

Surviving are his wife, Kristen Maureen Bowe of Wasilla; his girls, Noel Marie and Melanie Abigail Bowe; his mother and father, Barbara Ann and Roy John Bowe III; brother, Roy John Bowe IV; sister, Deanna Mae Faulkner; and many extended family and friends.

Preceding him in death were his aunt, Debra Bowe, and his two sets of grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in his memory be made to the Ronnie Lee Bowe Memorial Fund, account No. 8226738394 at any Wells Fargo Bank.

The family was cared for by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.