Gerald F McGowan, age 76 of North Platte passed away at Great Plains Health on October 14, 2014. He was born March 25, 1938 to Arthur and Jeanette (Sponem) McGowan in Oregon, WI. He spent his childhood years on the family farm and attended schools there. He moved to North Platte, NE in the early 1960’s and started to work at Simon’s Construction CO, where he worked for several years. He then started his own cement business and continued that until he began work at Union Pacific Fruit Express, retiring in 2001. On Jan. 11, 1988, he married Janice (Booth) Christensen at North Platte. They enjoyed their years of retirement attending antique tractor shows. He spent many hours working on his 1938 Allis Chalmer CA tractor. He is survived by his wife Janice; two daughters, Marilyn and Carolyn McGowan both of Madison, Wisconsin; step-son, Donald Christensen of Longmont, CO; step-daughters, Debra (Keith Hoffman) Christensen of Denver, CO and Sandra (Jim) Bondegard of Lodgepole, NE; one brother, Bob (Sandy) McGowan of Phoenix, AZ; sisters, Bernice (Vernon) Dunn, Teresa (Joe) Lalor, Lois (Ray) Gust, Helen (Ted) Balenza and Nancy Skudlt all of Madison, Wisconsin; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jim and Dale McGowan; a sister, Judy Stark; his son, Jerry McGowan; and two step daughters, Susan Glanz and Brenda Wamsley. Jerry will be greatly missed by his family, extended family and friends. He was a kind and loving man and “Grandpa Jerry” will be especially missed by his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Cremation was chosen. Memorial services will be at 1:00 pm CST Friday, October 17th at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with Pastor Leonard Shur officiating. Inurnment will be at 3:00 pm (MT) at Chappell Mennonite Cemetery in Chappell, NE. Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte is in charge of arrangements.

North Platte Telegraph, Oct. 16, 2014