Joseph Kent Borowy November 11, 1953 - February 17, 2023

Joseph Kent Borowy

Joseph Kent Borowy, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on February 17, 2023, at the age of 69, at his home in Boise, Idaho, after a courageous fight with multiple myeloma (bone marrow) cancer.

Born on November 11, 1953, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Joe and Donna Borowy, Joe “Kent” was the youngest of the family. He grew up in Chinook, Montana and graduated from Chinook High School in 1972. He started his career working the night shift at the local oil refinery in Chinook, and then after a few college courses, in 1973 he joined the Union Pacific Railroad in Pocatello.

His daughter Sarah Jo was born in 1977, the light of his life.

For 40 years, Joe worked as a brakeman and then a conductor for Union Pacific, riding from Pocatello to Green River, Wyoming, and later across the Treasure Valley into Nampa, Idaho. He had a demanding job and worked long hours in all kinds of weather conditions, on holidays, in snowstorms, through many late nights, and windy, winding tracks.

He was dedicated and tough. Joe held incredibly high standards for himself and everyone around him, all while being wildly true to his rebellious roots.

He loved to live and love.

Joe enjoyed listening to jazz and rock-n-roll music, especially when it was played outdoors in places like Sun Valley, with a large glass of red wine in hand.

Each summer he grew tomatoes, grilled with precision, and carefully watched the seasonal migration of hummingbirds.

In the winter he skied, particularly enjoying Grand Targhee. Many of the best winter family memories were made on ski trips to Heavenly, Teton Village, Park City, and Alta.

Life changed in the best way for Joe in 2007 when he married Mary Siscoe/Grenier. Together they biked, skied, traveled, and enjoyed new tastes and sounds around Idaho and beyond. Football Sundays were a special favorite, especially when Joe’s Cleveland Browns and Mary’s Packers were playing.

Joe retired in the fall of 2013, and he and Mary moved to Boise, Idaho to enjoy life in the capitol city. The greenbelt, music on The Grove, and a regional airport aligned well with the retired life he had in mind.

He treated himself to a silver convertible Porsche Boxster, went for frequent rides on his road bike, and then the unexpected C-word came.

He was a champ through radiation, multiple rounds of chemo, and a stem-cell transplant. His loving wife Mary, right by his side the entire time. While she may have thought her days of caring for others as an RN were over when she retired, she wasted no time and jumped right into action as Joe’s meticulous caretaker. He couldn’t have had a more perfect match in Mary.

Being “Papa Joe” brought Joe some of his greatest joys in his later years, and he loved traveling to see them, especially on holidays.

Joe is survived by his wife, Mary, of Boise, Idaho; his daughter Sarah Jo (Chris) Bohnenkamp of Parker, Colorado; step-daughter Sarah (Ryan) McCrary, Lincoln, California: his brother Larry (Leeann) Borowy of Menan, Idaho; his sister Sue (Bob deceased) Jackson of Billings, Montana; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Borowy, mother, Donna S. Borowy, and his grandparents.

A celebration of life is being planned by the family this spring in Pocatello. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joe’s honor to the Jimmy V foundation to help continue the fight against cancer: https://www.v.org/

Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.