Kurtis Tate Bowman, 40, of Hillsboro died Dec. 8, 2011, at Via Christi-St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.

He was born April 5, 1971, in Oakley to Jay and Connie (McGuire) Bowman. Growing up in Colby, he participated in a variety of activities, including wrestling, baseball, football, 4-H, choir, National Honor Society, and other activities. He graduated high school in 1989.

He graduated from the University of Kansas, receiving a degree in secondary education. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, a representative on KU’s Panhellenic Association Judicial Board, and participated in intramural wrestling.

After college, he settled in Smith Center where he worked as a paraprofessional and coach at Smith Center High School. The experiences he gained coaching football, wrestling, and track there shaped his coaching philosophy the remainder of his career. For his dedication to wrestling, he was awarded the Matt Overmiller Memorial Achievement Award.

He married Jessica Hyman of Smith Center in 1999. They lived in Oberlin and Canton before settling in Hillsboro in 2006.

In 2005, he was diagnosed with end stage renal disease, but continued to remain active, dedicating himself to the Hillsboro wrestling program as a high school assistant coach and middle school head coach. In January 2011, he enrolled in Tabor College, working toward a degree in special education. In the spring, he was accepted into the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He is survived by his wife, Jessica (Hyman) Bowman of Hillsboro; his mother, Connie (McGuire) Bowman of Smith Center; a brother, Steven Bowman of Whitewater; his mother-in-law, Rhonda Hyman of Smith Center; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kurt Bowman Memorial Scholarship fund.