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Let's Go Fishing
With Seniors gladly accept memorial bequests. If you have a loved one,
friend, employee that you would like to memorialize contact us and we will
explain how you can donate. Memorials will be posted on this page with the
persons name and a story. I think the following story tells it all about
two such people.
The Outdoorsman
By Ralph Carlson
Grand Rapids Herald-Review
 Any
angler that fishes Winnie especially early in the fishing season knows
about Bowen Lodge. The Gap leading out to Winnie and Bowen Flats have
traditionally been great spots for the fishing opener. Bowen Lodge sits
majestically on the bank in front of the flats and the final buoy
indicating to anglers they are out of the gap.
Bowen Lodge is unique in that it faces Winnie and their boat landing is
snuggled into Bowen Bay on Big Cutfoot Sioux. Bowen Bay has long been an
anglers haven during a cold and windy day. It also offers good fishing.
When Bob Heig purchased Bowens in 1982 and started his first season in
1983, he discovered just how good fishing was. In fact just in front of
the boat slips on Bowen Bay was Bob's favorite spot to fish and became
known as Bob's Bar. Having a fishing hole named after oneself is a great
honor. Bob rarely missed a day of fishing. He would not see the 2009
opener as he passed away in late 2008 at the age of 90, but not before
leaving a great legacy as an outdoorsman. His final year of deer hunting
he shot two deer and the walleyes were too numerous to count. The day Bob
passed he had a bag of minnows ready to go if the ice proved thick enough.
 Another
character long identified with Bowen Lodge was fishing guide Eldy
St.Peter. Eldy lived at Bowen Lodge and was one of the first great guides
on Winnie. Eldy started guiding at the age of 14. His love for fishing and
enthusiasm to teach others to fish was a labor of love. Still a young man
Eldy St.Peter passed away at age 49.
Aside from being friends Bob Heig and Eldy St.Peter shared a common bond,
a love of fishing.
Friends and guest from the lodge have donated funds for both Eldy and Bob
as memorials. As the memorial funds grew, Bob's son Bill looked for a
charitable organization that could benefit from the donation and preserve
the legacy of two men who loved fishing.
The perfect organization in the eyes of many was the Itasca County Chapter
of Lets Go Fishing With Seniors (LGF). LGF was created to enrich the lives
of people 55 and older through free fishing and boating excursions.
Founded in 2002 in Willmar, Minn., LGF now has 22 chapters.
The LGF boat will be at Bowen Lodge the week of July 20th, 2009. Seniors
are invited up to Bowen to enjoy Winnie and Cutfoot Sioux.
At a fish fry fund raiser for The Itasca County chapter of LGF $5,000 was
donated in the names of Eldy St.Peter and Bob Heig. Memorials will be
accepted throughout the summer in the names of Bob Heig and Eldy St.Peter
at Bowen Lodge.
* All
donations to the Let's Go Fishing program are 100% tax deductible.
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