Obituary: Sarah Jane Fowler Bekemeyer

Sarah Jane Fowler Bekemeyer, “Jane,” a lifelong resident of Winter Garden, died Thursday, June 16, 2016, in her home surrounded by her family. She was 85 years old and had been married to Harold L. “Lee” Bekemeyer for 66 ½ years.

She was born on May 26, 1931, to Harold E. and Virginia Britt Fowler in Winter Garden, Florida. She graduated from Lakeview High School. She received her LPN license and a real estate license after her high school graduation.

She owned a children’s clothing store, The Bonnie Shop, in downtown Winter Garden during the early 1960s. Jane’s family owned vegetable farms and citrus groves in Winter Garden, part of which were located where the Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves and Florida Hospital are now located.

Jane loved and owned several horses. She enjoyed fishing, playing cards, church hospitality and, most of all, her family. She has been a member and deaconess of Calvary Baptist Church, Winter Garden. She was a founding member of Fellowship Bible Church, Orlando, and currently of Haven of Grace Bible Church, Winter Garden. She is a supporter of the Bloom & Grow Society in Winter Garden. She supported the Black Hill's Horse Sanctuary and named her horse Liberty.

She is survived by her husband, Lee; her children; Harold L. Jr. “Hal” (Kathy), Steve (Sylvia), Kristin and Terri (John) Fredericksen; her grandchildren, Beth (Aaron) Hill, “Lee” III (Julie), Dawn Pace, Regina Sexton, Candace (Justin) Fredericksen Lynn, Katie (Travis) Fredericksen LaBrake; and her 11 great-grandchildren.

Service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2016, at Fellowship Bible Church, 310 N. Hiawassee Road, Orlando, FL 32835. Potluck dinner to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Berean Bible Society, N112 W17761 Mequon Road, P.O. Box 756, Germantown, WI 53022; or Black Hill's Horse Sanctuary in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Services entrusted to Loomis Family Funeral Home.