John F. McGowan

John was born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 4, 1923, the son of Francis Grover McGowan of Kansas City and Elizabeth Hogan McGowan of Independence, MO. He was raised in south central Kansas City, MO and graduated from Xavier Elementary School and Rockhurst High School. He met Mary Jean Markovetz while they were students at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. They were married in Aberdeen, South Dakota on August 25, 1951. Mary Jean died in 1990. He married Ludmilla (Millie) Westling on October 1, 1994 and she survives.

John was a junior at Rockhurst College when he volunteered for service in the US Army Air Corp, and he was selected for fighter pilot training. He was assigned to the 15th Air Force, 14th Fighter Group, 37th Fighter Squadron, stationed in Foggia, Italy. He completed a tour of fifty combat missions flying the P-38 Lockheed Lightening. His squadron was awarded the European Theater Ribbon for six battlefield stars and the Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster. John was awarded the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He returned to Kansas City and continued his education, completing three academic degrees, including his doctorate, under the G.I. Bill. John earned his Doctor of Education in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1954. He then entered an internship at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas as a counselor for veterans suffering from physical and mental disabilities. Following the internship, John was appointed as Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Department of Education and Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia. In this position, Dr. McGowan was instrumental in writing textbooks in his field, increasing enrollment numbers in his department, and using grants to modify building facilities for the handicapped.

John was appointed to serve as the Dean of Extension for the University of Missouri-Columbia from 1966 to 1972. From 1972 to 1979, Dr. McGowan served as the Provost for Administration at the Columbia campus. He then served as Department Chairman to the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology for several years before retiring as Professor Emeritus.

Dr. McGowan also worked on a part time basis as an educational consultant for State Farm Insurance. After retirement he worked as a Vocational Expert for the Social Security Administration.

John had several hobbies. He was a quail hunter in the days when Missouri still had quail! He said that he had “one good bird dog” over the years. He was also an avid fly fisherman who mentored many people to start fishing. He also built fly rods for family and friends. He and family fished Missouri State Parks and took horses on fishing trips in Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. He played golf in the University Faculty League, on local courses, and on vacations with Millie. He and Millie also belonged to two local ballroom dancing clubs and one national dance group. John enjoyed playing bridge as much as an “average” bridge player can while playing with his wife Millie who he described as an “excellent-plus” player. He was also an avid traveler. He traveled extensively with his family when his children were young, and he and Millie traveled the world including Russia, Scandinavia, and Millie’s homeland of Austria with her children and grandchildren.

John and Mary Jean had seven children and six survive. Mark McGowan (Donna), Maureen McGowan, Patricia McGowan (Daniel Bain), Paul McGowan, Kathleen McGowan and David McGowan. Robert McGowan preceded him in death.

He is survived by three stepchildren. Carlos Westling (Brenda), Victoria Bassinson (Jeff), and Elizabeth Wilson (Bruce).

He is survived by seven grandchildren, Jonathan Koalenz, Christopher Koalenz (Raena Furtado), Dr. Benjamin McGowan, Oscar McBain, Kimberly Gravitt (Jerry), Westling Wilson, and Henry Boone Wilson. Jason Westling preceded him in death.

He is survived by three great-grandchildren. Kai Alexander Koalenz, Hunter Brininger, and Jason Westling.

Donations can be made to The Food Bank of Central Missouri or to Habitat for Humanity.