Bettendorf, Iowa - Allen Bowden, 83, of Bettendorf, formerly of Ottumwa, died June 10, 2026, in a Davenport nursing home after an extended illness.

Walter Allen Bowden was born December 18, 1942, in St. Joseph Hospital, Ottumwa. He attended Horace Mann Elementary School, Washington Junior High School, and Ottumwa High School, graduating in 1961. He married Connie Yenger of Ottumwa in 1963. They moved to Ankeny and later to Bettendorf. They subsequently divorced and he married Sandra Otting in 1995.

Allen built a distinguished career in food sales and marketing, starting in earnest at Benner Foods at Jefferson Square in Ottumwa and then working for the Prewitt Company in Des Moines, and ultimately serving as president of the Quad Cities division of Advantage Sales and Marketing.

Allen was an avid golfer and gardener and he enjoyed being with his family and with his large extended family. He was oldest of 12 children and for many years he hosted an annual Bowden family Christmas dinner.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Walter C. Bowden and Patricia E. Reed Bowden, two brothers, Lowell and Jay, and a sister, Colleen. He was the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. John H. Bowden of Floris and the late Mr. and Mrs. John D. Reed of Ottumwa.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra of Bettendorf; two children, Kimberly Lanum (Jeff) of Long Grove and John Bowden (Lisa) of Centerton, AR; five grandchildren, Lauren Lanum, Blake Lanum, Tyler Lanum, Claire Bowden and Annabelle Bowden; four step-children, Kelly Otting (Marty), Terry Otting (Diana), Joe Otting (Monika) and Amy McConnell (Michael); and six step-grandchildren, Ian, Tristan, Olivia, Matt, Kylie and Kaelyn; five sisters, Elaine Brown (Ron) of Oro Valley, AZ, Susan Christensen (Larry) of McKinney, TX, Sheila Ross (Steve) of Tucson, AZ, Sharon MacDonald (Scott) of Phoenix, and Patsy Bowden of Marion; three brothers, Mike Bowden (Donna) of Norton, MA, Mark Bowden (Bobbi) of Cedar Rapids and Brian Bowden (Karen) of Bettendorf; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral was held on June 17, 2026, at Runge Mortuary, Davenport, and entombment was in the Memorial Park Mausoleum, Davenport.