Former Wasco resident, known for hospitality, dies

As a teenager in the early 1930s, Jewel Bowgren worked as a waitress at The Farm, a restaurant on Route 64 a mile west of Wasco that had its origins when her family sold produce from a vegetable stand. Her father began serving chicken and beef raised on his Woodside Farm and the eatery soon became a popular place.

Bowgren's father, Herbert Brown, eventually branched out to open a race track and a picnic grove that included a cement dance platform and orchestra pit. All the amenities drew plenty of customers, some from as far away as Chicago.

Bowgren died Sunday at age 92 in Simpsonville, S.C., near where she had been staying with her daughter.

"Her life was a big part of local history," said her other daughter, Joy Nelson of Geneva. "She was born in the farmhouse across from the restaurant. She graduated from high school at age 16 and started working in my grandfather's restaurant as a waitress with her girlfriends. She met my father there."

Nelson said her parents went to school to learn to tend bar, but her father then became more involved with the farm. Bowgren stayed home to raise three daughters.

"She was quite a joy," said Nelson. "She was a big social person and she gave a lot of parties. If someone had a birthday, we might have a hayride. She would bake a cake and make the food. She was a very good hostess. Her home was always welcome to everyone."

Bowgren was born Jewel A. Brown on June 16, 1915. She was graduated from St. Charles High School.

She married Clifton A. Bowgren in 1940 and they made their home near Wasco where they farmed for many years.

When her daughters were grown, Bowgren returned to working in a restaurant.

"My mom got bored," Nelson said. "She got a job in the coffee shop at the Little Traveler in Geneva and she made friends with the other women who worked there. They got together outside of work. They called themselves 'The Pinkies' because they wore pink uniforms."

In addition to her one daughter, Joy Nelson, Bowgren is survived by a second daughter Gay Fields of Greenville, S.C., 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. today at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, with funeral services following at 5:15 p.m.

There will also be a ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at Garfield Cemetery on Garfield Road in Campton Township.