John M. Bower Jr., beloved son, brother, husband, father, and papaw, passed away on October 4, 2020. John is survived by his mother Pauline Bower; wife Kathy Bower; siblings Patricia Lloyd, Beth (Doug) Kyle, Leslie Summers, and Tom (Cindy) Bower; children Todd Bower, Mark (Kelsey) Bower, and Karen (Ron) Frederick; and grandchildren Enzo Frederick, Elio Frederick, Isabella Frederick and soon-to-debut baby girl Bower (Mark & Kelsey). He is preceded in death by his father, John M. Bower Sr., and his siblings Ron Bower and Tony Bower. John was born in Indianapolis on November 5, 1953. After graduating from Speedway High School, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. While stationed in Del Rio, Texas, he met and eventually married the boss’s daughter. They celebrated 44 years of marriage on July 3rd of this year. John's robotics career began as a jet engine mechanic, and he worked on a team to build the machine that painted the stealth bomber. He continued his career as a maintenance supervisor in heavy machinery for companies such as Nabisco/Conagra and Coca-Cola. John was an avid race fan. He had not missed an Indy 500 in 40 years, until 2020. It was very kind of COVID to insist that no one else be allowed to attend either, in solidarity. His favorite form of racing, however, was top fuel drag racing. No amount of horsepower could pull him away from the NHRA finals at Lucas Oil Raceway each Labor Day weekend. John also loved rollercoasters and fishing, but his greatest joy in life was his family. Whether he was playing euchre or kismet at his parents’ house, cheering for his wife in the Mini, driving across the state and country to watch his children compete, or cherishing every memory with his grandchildren, he was a constant, steady presence in their lives. He showed up for the highlights, the tough times, and everything in between. His work ethic, love, and big bear hugs were unmatched and will be missed more than words can describe. Memorial donations can be sent to JEGS Foundation: Racing for Cancer Research http://www.teamjegs.com/content/foundation