Obituaries
Cow

COWMAN/McCOWAN - The Cass County Historian, December 1999, first printed in Beardstown Gazette, November 12, 1847 -
   Died the 7th, William, son of John and Harriett Cowman/McCowan. He was five.

COWAN, Robert 'Howard' - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, October 21, 2003 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
   Robert 'Howard' Cowan, 1931-2003, Arenzville
Robert "Howard" Cowan, 71, of Arenzville, died Sunday afternoon, Oct. 19, 2003, at Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur.
   He was born Nov. 28, 1931, in Kidder, Ky., the son of Andrew Chrisman and Aultie Esma Harwich Cowan. He married Connie Lovekamp on June 27, 1951, in Arenzville, and she survives.
   He is also survived by two sos, Bob Jr. (wife, Debbie) of Arenzville and Chris (wife, Brenda) of Beardstown; one daughter, Candice (husband, Dave) Erwing of Dawson; two grandsons, Jim and Bobby Cowan both of Beardstown; two brothers and two sisters. He was preceded in death by one brother, Edmund, and one sister, Pauline.
   Mr. Cowan was a retired business owner of Howard's Auto and Equipment in Beardstown.
   Private memorial services for the cremated remains will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at Goodwin Funeral Home in Beardstown, with burial at Arenzville North Cemetery immediately following services. Memorials have been suggested to the American Heart Association. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family online at goodwinfh@casscomm.com.

COWEN, Dorothy Marie - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, April 20, 2007 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Dorothy Marie Cowen, 1913-2007, Beardstown
   Dorothy Marie Cowen, 94, of Beardstown, died Wednesday evening, April 18, 2007, at Heritage Manor South in Beardstown. She was born Feb. 11, 1913, in Beardstown, he daughter of Cecil and Idella Rohn Wright. She married William H. Cowen on June 18, 1938, at St. Alexius Catholic Rectory in Beardstown and he preceded her in death Oct. 20, 2003.
   She is survived by two sons, William W. of Lebanon, Ind., and Michael L., (wife, Jo Ann ) of Montgomery; five grandchildren, Susan Cotter, Barbara Griffin, Patrick Cowen, Michael Cowen and Matthew Cowen; six great-grandchildren; and one brother, Fred Wright of Indiana. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Henrietta Schultz and Maxine Curry.
   Mrs. Cowen graduated from Beardstown High School in the class of 1931. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Beardstown and she enjoyed teaching Sunday school for many years. First and foremost she was a wife, mother and homemaker and enjoyed raising and spoiling her children and grandchildren. She and her husband loved dancing to the sounds of the big bands, and they enjoyed playing in several card clubs. She enjoyed swimming and water aerobics, flower gardening, reading and listening to the sporting events of Beardstown and the University of Illinois.
   Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Sunday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown, with burial in Beardstown City Cemetery. The family will meet with friends from 4-6 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Beardstown Little League Association. Condolences may be sent to sagerfh@casscomm.com.

COWEN, William H. - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, October 21, 2003 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
William H. Cowen, 1916-2003, Beardstown
   William H. Cowen, 87, of Beardstown died Monday afternoon, Oct. 20, 2003, at Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville.
He was born Feb. 7, 1916, in Beardstown, the son of H.P. and Cecile Ryan Cowen. He married Dorothy M. Wright on June 18, 1938, at St. Alexius Catholic Rectory in Beardstown, and she survives in Beardstown.
   He is also survived by two sons, William W. of Terre Haute, Ind., and Michael L. (wife, Jo Ann) of Montgomery; five grandchildren, Susan Cotter, Barbara Griffin, Patrick Cowen, Michael Cowen and Matthew Cowen; five great-grandchildren; and one brother Pat (wife, BetteJane) of Beardstown. He was preceded in death by one sister Harriet Vernon.
   Mr. Cowen graduated from Beardstown High School in the class of 1933. He was a member of St. Alexius Catholic Church and a 50-year member of the Knights of Columbus. As a very civic minded individual, he was the first president of the Beardstown Little League Association in 1953, the first president of the Beardstown Park Board, a charter member and past president of the Beardstown Kiwanis Club, a member for several years of the Beardstown Police and Fire Commission, and a lifetime member of the B.P.O. Elks Lodge 1007 in Beardstown. There are two recreational areas in Beardstown that were named for Mr. Cowen - "Bill Cowen Field" (Little League playing field) at Schmoldt Park and the "Kiwanis Park in Honor of Bill Cowen." He was formerly employed at Schultz Baujan Mill in Beardstown for several years. He later became a traveling auditor for Central Illinois Public Service (now Ameren) in Beardstown where he was promoted to the Western Division Auditor until his retirement in 1978. Mr. Cowen was an avid vegetable gardener and loved to can his vegetables. He enjoyed fishing and making candles. As a sports enthusiast, in his younger years he participated in fast pitch softball and tennis.
   Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Alexius Catholic Church in Beardstown, with burial at St. Alexius Catholic Cemetery. There will an informal visitation from 4-7 p.m. today at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown. Family will meet friends from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Beardstown Little League Association or Beardstown Kiwanis Club. Condolences may be sent to the family online at sagerfh@casscomm.com.

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