Richard Gowen

Dick Gowen, age 74, of Aurora died Friday, July 18, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, July 22nd at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aurora. Fr. Craig Doty will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 5:30 P.M. Monday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora, with visitation from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. at St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rosary at 7:30 P.M. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: RICHARD GEORGE GOWEN

Dick Gowen was born at home on a farm near North Loup, Nebraska on February 25, 1929. He was the youngest of three children born to George and Adelaide (Davis) Gowen. He attended country school through the 8th grade and was the only one in his class. He then attended North Loup High School and graduated in 1947. Dick attended college for four years at the University of Nebraska majoring in Agriculture. While in college, he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and worked in the UNL dairy barn.

After graduating from UNL in 1951, he enlisted in the Army serving 3 years during the Korean War. Part of his tour was spent in Okinowa as a company clerk and in Army Intelligence. After being discharged from the Army in October 1953, he came to Aurora to farm near Stockham, Nebraska, with his brother-in-law. In 1955 he met Joan Couch of Grand Island and they were married on June 9, 1956. Dick farmed from 1956 to 1965 when he took a job managing the feed mill at the Aurora Coop. He remained at the Coop until 1981, then worked for Farmland Industries as a feed specialist until 1984.

In recent years, Dick was retired and spent many hours in his woodworking shop. Dick was also a member of St. Mary's Church since 1956 and was a 4-H Leader for many years. He enjoyed showing off his collections, showing Valentines and tools to local clubs, the manor, the museum and most recently at Auroran Days.

He was preceded in death by his parents, older 7-year old brother Billy and sister, Geraldine.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Joan of Aurora; four children, Bev Beins and her husband Rod, Bill Gowen and his wife Diane, Carol Glinn and her husband Kurt all of Aurora and Amy Winchell and her husband Mark of Kearney; 10 grandchildren, Will and Chris Beins, Stefanie, Stacie, Samantha and Shelby Gowen, Jared Glinn, Michaela, Madeline and Mariah Winchell. He is also survived by a brother-in-law, Dale Fuehring of Lincoln.