McGOWAN, James Grant

MCGOWAN, GARNER, EVANS, JENSEN, WOODS, KASIK, VAN HORN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/12/2013 at 00:52:12

Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
February 14, 1996

Obituary ~ James Grant McGowan
March 28, 1922 ~ February 12, 1996

MASON CITY — James Grant McGowan Sr., 73, of 752 12th St. N.E., died Monday (Feb. 12, 1996) at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minn.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 N. Adams Ave., with the Rev. Raymond Burkle and the Rev. Paul J. Evans officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, where full military honors will be conducted by members of Mason City Veteran's Memorial Association.

Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. today at Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., with a 7 p.m. Scriptural wake service followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary.

The family suggests memorials to the Elevator Fund of Holy Family Catholic Church or Hospice of North Iowa, in memory of Jim.

James Grant McGowan Sr. was born March 28, 1922, in Mason City, the son of Earl McGowan and Helen E. "Babe" (Garner) McGowan. On Oct. 14, 1944, he married Ruth Ann Evans at Mason City.

Jim attended Mason City schools and graduated from Holy Family High School in 1940. He attended Loras College in Dubuque. He also served in the United States Air Force from 1943-1945, stationed with the 8th Air Force in England.

After his military service, he returned to Mason City to join the family business, the former Ideal Sand and Gravel Company, where he was employed for 35 years. Later, he worked for Marshall & Swift for 10 years until his retirement in 1984.

He enjoyed reading and working in the garden in his spare time.

He was a lifetime member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, council #1006 and VFW Post, #733, all of Mason City.

James is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann, of Mason City; three daughters, Mary "Mickey" Jensen and her husband, Craig, of Clear Lake; Nancy Woods and her husband, Jon, of Mitchellville, and Margaret "Margy" Kasik and her husband, Bill, of Mason City; one son, Jim McGowan Jr. of Mason City; nine grandchildren, Michele Jensen of Cedar Rapids, Lisa Jensen of Maryville, Mo., Sara Van Horn of Clear Lake, Jennifer Woods of Ames, Deidre Woods of Mitchellville, Bridget Kasik, Kellie Kasik, Sean McGowan and Katie McGowan, all of Mason City; and one great-grandson, Wylie Van Horn of Clear Lake.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2013