Bob Bowman, Window Industry Veteran and Former Winco Window Co. Sales Rep, Passes Away at Age 92

Bob Bowman, who served as one of the longest serving sales representatives in Winco Window Co.‘s 100-year history, passed away on May 11, 2021, at the age of 92. Bowman retired from Winco as a sales representative after 37 years, but his career in the window industry began in 1955.  

“Bob’s career mirrors some of the most significant changes that occurred in the history of the U.S. window and glazing business, and we were fortunate to have him as a sales rep and role model,” says Kurtis Suellentrop, EIT, and vice president at Winco. “His advice to young professionals was to work hard, learn the products inside and out to meet the challenges of projects.”

After serving in the Navy during the Korean War and graduating from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1955, Bowman began working as an estimator for an aluminum casement company, Alcasco, a division of Detroit Gasket Co, which was capitalizing on the massive postwar building boom. In the following years, Bowman worked for some of the premier window companies of the day, including Four Seasons Windows, Lupton Manufacturing, Rusko Industries, and Kawneer. Bowman joined Winco as a rep in 1980 covering Southern California and Arizona and helped put the company “on the map” in California, say officials.

Early in his career, Bowman realized the significance of an emerging association, the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, and he served on its specification committee and in other capacities over the years.

Bowman is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 70 years, three children, and six grandchildren.