Mary Bower

Mary Louise Pressprich Westphal Bower, 104, of Port Huron, died Monday, July 15, 2013.

She was born April 29, 1909 in Port Huron to Otto Ewald and Anna Katherine Pressprich.

Mom was the fifth of 7 children, and was proud to call Port Huron home for most of her life. She launched her teaching career at Saginaw’s North School and later served on the faculties of Port Huron’s Campau, Tyler and McKinley schools. She was actively involved at St. John’s United Church of Christ where she was a founding member of the Mary Martha Guild. Mom was an avid bridge player and voracious reader who also enjoyed gardening, sports, traveling, sewing, quilting, and an active social life.

She married Herbert Westphal during the Great Depression and together they raised four children. That experience inspired her to adopt a “green” philosophy long before it became fashionable to be environmentally conscious. Several years after Herbert’s death in 1975, she married Clyde Bower.

Surviving are her children, David (Loretta) Westphal, Nancy Madtes, Jo Westphal, and Carole Bleasdale; grandchildren, Mary Ann (Michael) Weitnauer, Jodi (Randall) Joseph, Pamela (Kevin) Smith, Emil (Angela) Steinhaus, Scott (Kristen) Bleasdale, and Christy Koerner; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Mom was predeceased by her parents, both husbands, all six of her siblings, Otto C. Pressprich, Elsie Fead, Arno Pressprich, Gertrude Stein, Helen (Betty) Henderson, and Robert Pressprich, sons-in-law, William John Madtes and Brian John Bleasdale; and grandson, Brian George Bleasdale. The family would like to thank the Mercy Village and Marwood staffs for the compassionate care she received.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2013 in St. John's United Church of Christ. Visitation with family members will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in the church walkway with the service following at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. Interment will be in the Pressprich family plot at Lakeside Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ, 710 Pine Street, Port Huron 48060. Arrangements are by Pollock-Randall Funeral Home.