Harry Duane Cowger, 89, of Ottumwa, died at 10:24 a.m. November 11, 2022 at Ottumwa Regional Health Center.
He was born February 14, 1933 in Van Buren County to Harry S. and Alice L. Slutts Cowger. Before Harry was born his father was killed in the line of duty. Harry was raised by his mother and step-father, Alice and Ray Hammersly Sr. He married Margaret Jessop June 20, 1968. She preceded him in death February 13, 2010.
Growing up in Ottumwa, Harry served 13 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Serving during the Korean War, he was stationed in Japan and Hawaii. He also served 9 years in the National Guard. He worked for Wausau Homes and for close to 20 years for Iowa Beverage, retiring in 1991.
Harry had been a member of East End Pentecostal Church where he belonged to King's Men. He enjoyed fishing and was a member of North America Fishing Club. Most importantly his grandchildren were his world.
Surviving are his children, Clifford Cowger of Ottumwa, James (Karin) Cowger of Ankeny, Rhonda (Rick) Lathrop, Duane Cowger and Michelle (Chris) McElroy all of Ottumwa; a foster daughter, Rebecca Sird of Davenport and her 3 daughters; 5 grandchildren, Joshua Cowger, Nisha Lathrop (fiancé, Josh Felkins), Vincent (Dria) Lathrop, Nicholas McElroy, and Sara McElroy; 7 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Max Cowger of Cedar Rapids; and Bill Hammersley of Ottumwa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Clay McElroy; great-grandson, Carson Felkins; brothers Wayne Hammersley, William Robert Cowger and Ray Hammersly Jr.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 15th at Reece Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 16th at Reece Funeral Home with Chaplain Doug McAntire officiating. The service will be livestreamed on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military honors conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Memorials may be made to Heartland Humane Society
He was born February 14, 1933 in Van Buren County to Harry S. and Alice L. Slutts Cowger. Before Harry was born his father was killed in the line of duty. Harry was raised by his mother and step-father, Alice and Ray Hammersly Sr. He married Margaret Jessop June 20, 1968. She preceded him in death February 13, 2010.
Growing up in Ottumwa, Harry served 13 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Serving during the Korean War, he was stationed in Japan and Hawaii. He also served 9 years in the National Guard. He worked for Wausau Homes and for close to 20 years for Iowa Beverage, retiring in 1991.
Harry had been a member of East End Pentecostal Church where he belonged to King's Men. He enjoyed fishing and was a member of North America Fishing Club. Most importantly his grandchildren were his world.
Surviving are his children, Clifford Cowger of Ottumwa, James (Karin) Cowger of Ankeny, Rhonda (Rick) Lathrop, Duane Cowger and Michelle (Chris) McElroy all of Ottumwa; a foster daughter, Rebecca Sird of Davenport and her 3 daughters; 5 grandchildren, Joshua Cowger, Nisha Lathrop (fiancé, Josh Felkins), Vincent (Dria) Lathrop, Nicholas McElroy, and Sara McElroy; 7 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Max Cowger of Cedar Rapids; and Bill Hammersley of Ottumwa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Clay McElroy; great-grandson, Carson Felkins; brothers Wayne Hammersley, William Robert Cowger and Ray Hammersly Jr.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 15th at Reece Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 16th at Reece Funeral Home with Chaplain Doug McAntire officiating. The service will be livestreamed on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military honors conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Memorials may be made to Heartland Humane Society
Harry Duane Cowger, 89, of Ottumwa, died at 10:24 a.m. November 11, 2022 at Ottumwa Regional Health Center.
He was born February 14, 1933 in Van Buren County to Harry S. and Alice L. Slutts Cowger. Before Harry was born his father was killed in the line of duty. Harry was raised by his mother and step-father, Alice and Ray Hammersly Sr. He married Margaret Jessop June 20, 1968. She preceded him in death February 13, 2010.
Growing up in Ottumwa, Harry served 13 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Serving during the Korean War, he was stationed in Japan and Hawaii. He also served 9 years in the National Guard. He worked for Wausau Homes and for close to 20 years for Iowa Beverage, retiring in 1991.
Harry had been a member of East End Pentecostal Church where he belonged to King's Men. He enjoyed fishing and was a member of North America Fishing Club. Most importantly his grandchildren were his world.
Surviving are his children, Clifford Cowger of Ottumwa, James (Karin) Cowger of Ankeny, Rhonda (Rick) Lathrop, Duane Cowger and Michelle (Chris) McElroy all of Ottumwa; a foster daughter, Rebecca Sird of Davenport and her 3 daughters; 5 grandchildren, Joshua Cowger, Nisha Lathrop (fiancé, Josh Felkins), Vincent (Dria) Lathrop, Nicholas McElroy, and Sara McElroy; 7 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Max Cowger of Cedar Rapids; and Bill Hammersley of Ottumwa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Clay McElroy; great-grandson, Carson Felkins; brothers Wayne Hammersley, William Robert Cowger and Ray Hammersly Jr.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 15th at Reece Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 16th at Reece Funeral Home with Chaplain Doug McAntire officiating. The service will be livestreamed on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military honors conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Memorials may be made to Heartland Humane Society
He was born February 14, 1933 in Van Buren County to Harry S. and Alice L. Slutts Cowger. Before Harry was born his father was killed in the line of duty. Harry was raised by his mother and step-father, Alice and Ray Hammersly Sr. He married Margaret Jessop June 20, 1968. She preceded him in death February 13, 2010.
Growing up in Ottumwa, Harry served 13 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Serving during the Korean War, he was stationed in Japan and Hawaii. He also served 9 years in the National Guard. He worked for Wausau Homes and for close to 20 years for Iowa Beverage, retiring in 1991.
Harry had been a member of East End Pentecostal Church where he belonged to King's Men. He enjoyed fishing and was a member of North America Fishing Club. Most importantly his grandchildren were his world.
Surviving are his children, Clifford Cowger of Ottumwa, James (Karin) Cowger of Ankeny, Rhonda (Rick) Lathrop, Duane Cowger and Michelle (Chris) McElroy all of Ottumwa; a foster daughter, Rebecca Sird of Davenport and her 3 daughters; 5 grandchildren, Joshua Cowger, Nisha Lathrop (fiancé, Josh Felkins), Vincent (Dria) Lathrop, Nicholas McElroy, and Sara McElroy; 7 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Max Cowger of Cedar Rapids; and Bill Hammersley of Ottumwa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Clay McElroy; great-grandson, Carson Felkins; brothers Wayne Hammersley, William Robert Cowger and Ray Hammersly Jr.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 15th at Reece Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 16th at Reece Funeral Home with Chaplain Doug McAntire officiating. The service will be livestreamed on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military honors conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Memorials may be made to Heartland Humane Society
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