Obituary for Mrs. Geraldine Bownik

Geraldine "Gerry" Bownik, of Neptune, passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at HighSmith Rainey Hospital in Fayetteville NC. She was born in Teaneck, NJ and a resident of Shark River Hills, Neptune since 1959. She graduated from Columbia High School in Union, NJ in 1948. Throughout her career as a Professional Girl Scout she continued her education; taking a variety of management classes at Monmouth College. Gerry began her association with the Girl Scout Organization as a child, then went on to volunteer as a troop leader, camp counselor, and Camp Director before taking a full-time position in the Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts office in Farmingdale, NJ. Over the course of her career, she held various positions; Camp Director, Outdoor Training Coordinator, Property Manager, and Backpacking ProgramTrainer and Coordinator. After her retirement in 1990, she remained an active member of the Girl Scout Alumni Group, then went on to serve as a Board member of the Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts. She also, served on the Board of the American Camping Association (ACA), Tri-State Region, where she held the position of Secretary, then President of the Association. Gerry's love of the outdoors and commitment to educating others continued well into her retirement years as she went on to work for the Marine Consortium at Sandy Hook National Park; where she led groups of students on hands-on, interactive explorations of Sandy Hook's salt marsh and barrier beach environments. Gerry is predeceased by her parents, Thelma and Barney McArthur; her brothers, Stephen McArthur and Barney McArthur; and her husband of 56 years, Nicholas Joseph Bownik. She is survived by two daughters, Leslie Mitchell and her husband Waylon of Eastover, NC, Linda Panasuk and her husband Stephen of Point Pleasant, NJ and a son, James Bownik of Neptune, NJ; 3 grandchildren, Nicole Steen and her husband, Philip of Nashville, TN, Brian Jones of Howell, Kara Gaul and her husband, Jonathan of Spotswood, NJ and 3 great-grandchildren. Hope Valley Hawkins Funeral Service & Cremation of Clinton NC

Ely Funeral Home Viewing

JAN 8. 11:00 AM

St. Anne's Cemetery

Wall, NJ, US

JAN 7. 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM

Ely Funeral Home

3316 State Hwy 33

Neptune, NJ, US, 07753