Elmer Edmund COWAN

COWAN, STEVENSON, SWANSON, ERICKSON, CARTANO, ATCHISON, DUBBERT, WHITFIELD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/28/2016 at 16:47:14

August 25, 1903 --- January 10, 1982

Elmer Edmund Cowan was born August 25, 1903, at Laurens, Iowa, to Shields Townsend and Ella Ellen (Stevenson) Cowan. His early childhood was spent on a farm near Laurens. After graduating from high school, he took his undergraduate education at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. He completed his Masters Degree at Columbia University in New York City.

He completed 40 years in the field of education, 26 years as the superintendent of schools at New Hartford, Iowa, Alexander, Iowa and West Bend, Iowa and 14 years as director of the Iowa School Lunch Program in the Department of Public Instruction until his retirement in 1970.

He married Vila Swanson on June 30, 1927, at the home of her parents at the Methodist Camp, Lake West Okoboji, Iowa. He was a member of the Spirit Lake Methodist Church and a 50 year member of both the Masonic Lodge and the Order of Eastern Star. Since his retirement he has lived at his home at the Methodist Camp on Lake Okoboji and has spent the last 11 winters at his home in Venice, Florida.

Elmer is survived by his wife, Vila; two daughters, Mrs. Gerald (Mary) Erickson of Spirit Lake, Iowa and Mrs. David (Jo Ann) Cartano of Miami, Florida; four grandchildren, Sue Erickson Atchison, Connie Erickson, Geoffrey and Ann Cartano; two brothers, John and Leonard both of Laurens; two sisters, Mrs. Erwin (Lura) Dubbert of Laurens and Mrs. Allan (Irma) Whitfield of Des Moines.

Elmer passed away January 10, 1982 at Spirit Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents.