Robert “Bob” McGowan, 92, of Prairie Village, KS, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of May 13th.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 66 years, Mary; his son William (Joby) of Prairie Village, KS; daughters Amy of Kansas City, Mo and Catherine (Ray) of Nashville, TN; and grandsons Andrew (Wei Yan) of Lafayette, CA and Thomas (Caylin) of Roeland Park, KS. Bob is preceded in death by his father Francis, mother Dolores, and sister Mari McGowan.
Bob grew up in Leonia, NJ where he graduated from Leonia High School. Following two years working at a bank in New York City, Bob headed to the Midwest to attend Park College in 1949. His academic studies were interrupted by a call to the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He served from 1952 to 1954 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. It was there he met a lovely Red Cross worker, Mary Albert from Lansing, Iowa. Upon his discharge, he returned to Park, graduating in 1956 with a degree in Economics. Bob and Mary were married in June of that year. They moved to Kansas City where Bob started a job with Midwest Research Institute.
Bob spent 35 years in the field of purchasing and retired in 1996 as Corporate Director of Purchasing after a 20 year tenure with Tension Envelope Corporation. He was very involved with the Kansas City Chapter of the National Association of Purchasing Management, serving on the board for ten years and as chapter president for two years. He treasured the friends he made there and always kept in touch with them.
Bob believed strongly in being an active part of the community he lived in. In Roeland Park, KS, where he and Mary raised their family, Bob was elected City Councilman and during his 15 years on the council, he served on the planning and zoning commission, as city council president and police commissioner. Bob and Mary later moved to Prairie Village, KS, where he worked on the Sister City Committee and helped to initiate a new sister city twinning of Prairie Village and Dolyna, Ukraine. Bob worked every election as a poll worker for Johnson County for over 20 years.
He was a staunch volunteer, always willing to lend a hand where needed (and providing a chance to meet new people). He was a “Catch-A-Ride” driver, providing transportation to medical appointments for the elderly and persons with disability. He volunteered with the Shawnee Mission School District as a second-grade classroom assistant. He served as a member of the Greater Kansas City Elderhostel Alumni Steering Committee. One of his favorite volunteer opportunities was working as a tour adjunct and assisting special events at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
In 1982, Bob joined the Greater Kansas City People to People Council. He served as a board member and First Vice President. He was the administrator for the Student Ambassador Scholarship and Loan Program and was a Home Stay coordinator. He and Mary sponsored international military students and their families at Fort Leavenworth for 13 years.
During his early years as a student, Bob established strong roots with his alma mater, Park College (University). He shared memories of filling sandbags during the 1951 Missouri River flood. First serving formally as Student Senate president, Bob continued to support Park University through two terms on the Alumni Council, as its president and as a member of the Board of Trustees.
To say that Bob was a people person is an enormous understatement. He relished any opportunity to meet and talk to anyone – whether it was at a political meeting, social gathering, grocery store, or out in the yard talking to the neighbors. Bob loved to learn about people’s backgrounds, family, and interests and he never forgot a face or name.
Bob loved, first and foremost, his wife Mary and his family and, in no particular order: making new acquaintances, ice cream, good music, dancing, the KC Royals, his dogs Eddie and Zeke, hearty laughter, spending time on the Mississippi River at the family’s Rock House, chocolate, always being a Jersey boy at heart, a manicured lawn, BBQ, the Nelson Art Museum, a proper cocktail, the Kansas City Chiefs, keeping up with current events, bingo, trips to Mendocino on the California coast, and the many, many cherished friends he made in his lifetime.
Bob was a dapper dresser who talked about his early days in Kansas City when he “moonlighted” at Jack Henry’s, and he never lost his love of a well-made shirt. He always believed in being kind and respectful to others, no matter the situation. His family considers themselves very lucky to have had him in their lives for so many years, yet he will be terribly missed by all of us.
The family sends a special thank you to the kind and compassionate staff at Santa Marta Assisted Living who made life fun, safe, and social for Bob and Mary these past three years.
Visitation will be at 1 pm on May 25, with Catholic Mass at 2 pm at Santa Marta, 13800 W. 116th Street in Olathe, Ks.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bob’s name to the Park University Alumni Foundation. Visit https://park.edu/givenow and select the Marlowe Sherwood Scholarship in the designation box.
Family friend ,Lenexa ,Kansas
I was a neighbor to Mr. McGowan & family for much of my early life, and they, under his patriarchal leadership, were the most caring, friendly neighbors my family ever had! His years of tremendous community service and philanthropic activities speaks wonders to his generous & giving spirit. What a life well lived!
Friend ,Kansas City ,Missouri
Bob's smile simply drew us in. His spirit then grabbed us with his wonderful views of life We were blessed to have known him Kaler and Eileen Bole
Wife’s friend ,Overland Park ,Kansas
Mary, I am sorry to hear of Bob’s death. It was a very lovely life the 2 of you had. An Iowa gal can be a blessing to her spouse!