A new pavilion at Rotary Park in Butler was dedicated Sunday in memory of Jacob T. Bowser, 19, who died in a traffic accident in September.

A new pavilion at Rotary Park in Butler was dedicated Sunday to the memory of a young man who helped feed and guide children at the site.

A crowd of people from the Island neighborhood joined members of the Butler PM Rotary, who built the pavilion, in dedicating the shelter to Jacob T. Bowser, 19, who died in a traffic accident in September.

He helped serve food to children in the summer food program at the park and helped with Fishbone Ministries, which was started by his parents Tom and Sandy Bowser.

“If you've never met my son, it's not too late,” Tom said during an outpouring of emotion and prayer.

He said Jacob suffered from anxiety and depression. Bowser talked openly about how his son once spent 10 days in a hospital getting treatment to silence the voices in his head telling him to commit suicide.

Jacob was better when he left the hospital, but his struggles occasionally resurfaced, Bowser said.

“My own son became my hero,” he said.

He shared the faith that saved him by speaking with children in the food program and others through the ministry, Bowser said.

“I lost my son to a terrible injustice. We will be together again in heaven,” Bowser said. “We all need to say the same thing. We are not promised tomorrow.”

Bowser explained that the pain his son felt helped him understand other people's suffering.

“He shared the love he had of Jesus Christ,” Bowser said.

The park he shared with children has a new pavilion with picnic tables, benches and a newly-surfaced basketball court thanks to members of the Butler PM Rotary.

Dennis Baglier, Rotary president, said the work on the pavilion started late last summer and was completed last week after being put on hold over the winter. A sign with the names of the donors was erected in the park.

Rotary member Sam Zurzolo, a Butler Township commissioner who helped build the pavilion, said the sign dedicating the pavilion to Jacob Bowser will be replaced with a bronze plaque.

County Commissioner Leslie Osche told the audience that she, Tom Bowser, Baglier and Zurzolo have something in common. She said they all endured the death of a child.

“This, really I think, was a labor of love,” Osche said.