Help Pay For Troy Bowles’ Funeral Expenses
Notice:
Fundraiser posted with the express permission of Troy’s wife.
Update:
If you see Jenny Kern's name appear as "beneficiary" on this page, it can appear misleading. All funds will go directly to Janelle and her children for Troy's funeral expenses. With Janelle's consent, Jenny's name appears because she is part of the fundraising team and has graciously agreed to help with the process of creating and withdrawing the funds to an available account for Janelle and her family to use for funeral expenses. Janelle's brother, Anthony and his wife, Jenny are trusted and will guarantee that the funds go directly to Janelle.
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TROY BOWLES:
An amazing man of God. A beloved uncle. A wonderful Father and an amazing Husband. He was passionate about football and baseball. He was excited about the Diamondback's World Series Win and the Cardinals reaching the Super Bowl. He loved Star Wars. He followed the Prequal Star Wars movies with passion, nitpicking and soaking up every theory and word that came out of their production. He even went to Glendale 9 drive-in to see Episode One on opening night. He loved to have fun. He would often join the "after church service" sports games on Sunday nights and play football, basketball or baseball with the guys. When he was in Minnesota, He was never afraid to throw some snowballs or go sledding. He even had a love for skiing. His laugh was infectious especially when he heard a real funny joke. Fart jokes were the funniest. He loved to talk about his years in the boys choir as well as his love for theater and acting.
Troy's heart was captured by a beautiful blonde from Wadena, Minnesota in the late 80's and early 90's. He proposed to her and the were married at Saguaro Ranch in 1993. It was a beautiful ceremony. Her name was Janelle Kern. Two years later, a miracle baby cam along. They named him Zachary. Then 4 years later, at the height of Y2K, another miracle baby was born. She was named Hannah. He could not have been more proud than in each of these moments.
Troy was a man of many talents, ideas and motivations. For many years, Troy and Janelle, were children's church pastors. They helped raise a generation of millennials to know and love the word of God. This is one area where Troy used his love of theater and acting. Examples of this included "Dwight's Auto Shop", his western play with Bad Bart and the town of "Peeeeoriahh". Let's not forget Rawley and his usage of baseball illustrations or the many Christmas plays both he and his wife, Janelle, worked on. The "Don't Be Afraid Brigade" and "Amal and the Night Visitors are some examples of these. He even wrote many small scripts and was full of ideas. Other examples of their ministry include Bee Bop Shop! Bible Bucks! Young Servants! Faith Camp! Their love for the thrift store also helped in this endeavor.
But Troy's love for the arts wasn't just limited to children's church but to other areas as well. He built whole costumes, and props, for church haunted houses out of stuff he purchased at the haunted house. One example of this is a demon holding a man in a cage. Another example is the use of illusions when he created an illusion of a politician turning into the devil (Mound, MN). He was even willing to be soaking in corn syrup "blood" and posted to a cross to play Jesus.
In 2003-2004, Troy and Janelle answered the call to pastor at the Prescott Conference. They pioneered a church in Peoria near Fresh Start Church, his soon to be current church. They gave maximum effort even when it seemed fruitless right down to enlisting his kids and nephews to help him pass out hundreds of flyers in the scorching heat. They turned their home into a church before moving to the Holiday Inn and Youngtown. Through this, an old WW2 bomber pilot gave his life to Jesus and served him through out his golden years.
Troy loved teaching too. Troy and Janelle lead "harvest groups" (bible study/life groups) together. Troy had the ability to break down the most complicated theological discussion into something that a child could understand. Thus he had a gift for teaching not just kids but newly born again Christians as well as more mature Christians.
Troy was, also, a friend to those who needed a friend. He was easy to talk to and he had an infectious laugh. He provided comfort to family and friends when they dealt with loss. He was a shoulder to cry on. He was an encourager. He knew just what to say at the right moment even when he, himself, was down.
In his final months, he was wonderfully touched by God in a way that few can ever hope to be. The touch was evident that people had noticed. It was like he was a new convert all over again. He had a renewed love for Jesus and a rekindled hunger to learn. He was not afraid to dance like David too.
Troy touched many lives and those that knew him, will never forget him.
This "GoFundMe" was started to help defray the cost of funeral expenses from Troy's sudden passing. We need the funds within the next two weeks and are asking for help in any amount that people can do. These funds will directly to Janelle to help her and to honor her.
