Virginia "Ginny" Pangman Bowler

• Virginia Pangman Bowler (Ginny)
• February 20, 1928 – December 6, 2024
• Waterford, Wisconsin

Ginny “Nana” Pangman Bowler, age 96, lived an extraordinary life and died in Waterford, Wisconsin on December 6th. She was born on February 20, 1928, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in Bay City, Michigan where she nurtured her lifelong passion for music and her Catholic faith. Ginny was salutatorian of her high school class but was most known as a gifted pianist and singer. She excelled in academics and had a lot of fun as a cheerleader. Ginny left Bay City to follow her dream of a life as a religious sister and her first college degree in music. While at the convent, Ginny enjoyed teaching vocal and piano performance to her many cherished students.

Ginny left the convent, but never her strong Catholic faith. She moved to Milwaukee and received her degree as a Registered Nurse at Marquette University. On a visit home to Bay City, Ginny was introduced to William Pangman, whom she married. The couple moved to Waterford, Wisconsin where they raised their five children and lived for many years. In addition to raising her family, Ginny enjoyed her career as a nurse, ultimately receiving a master’s degree from Marquette University and became a long-time nursing instructor at Alverno College. Ginny was always taking steps to expand her knowledge and experiences. She became one of the first Nurse Practitioners in Wisconsin and hosted a weekly radio program in the 1970’s focusing on “wellness”.

In the 1980s, Ginny moved to Tucson, Arizona. She continued her teaching career as a Professor of Nursing at Pima College and Director of Nursing Education at University of Arizona. She then enjoyed retirement, dancing and traveling with her second husband, Dr. George Bowler until his death.

Family was always Ginny’s primary focus, and she genuinely included everyone she knew in her definition of “family”. When she returned to Wisconsin, Ginny continued to enjoy her many grandchildren and their friends, often providing the piano accompaniment for their musical endeavors and rides to sports activities. She embodied the best of qualities: unconditional love, strength of spirit, and a fervor for life and its opportunity.

The last few years have been difficult, as Ginny struggled with her memory. She never forgot her family and every hug brought tons of joy. If you saw Ginny in these last few years, you were probably told “I love you” more than once. Ginny’s final days were spent with her enormous family reminding her of the unending impact of her beautiful life well-lived. 

Ginny is survived by her children, Mary Pangman Schmitt (Cindy Gehrz), Bill Pangman (Rosa), Tom Pangman (Tracey), Ann Pangman Esterman (Marcos), and Carrie Ludwig (Dennis), many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, plus many “bonus” family members who she loved. Ginny was preceded in death by her mother, Helen Posluszny, both of her husbands and her only sister, Geri Bullis. The staff of Elder Care Cottages in Waterford lovingly helped Ginny and the family throughout her final days. Ginny’s life will be celebrated with a private Catholic mass and burial with her family in Michigan at a future date.

Mealy-Stencel Funeral Home is proudly serving the Bowler family.

• Mealy-Stencel Funeral Home
• 225 W. Main Street Waterford, WI 53185
• 262-534-2233
• www.stencelfh.com