Leonard Clem Gowen, 85, long-time Beatrice resident, passed away at his home Jan. 20, 2025.

Leonard was born May 16, 1939, in Las Vegas, NV to Clem and Hazel (Bumgardner) Gowen. Later that year, the family moved to Portland, OR. Soon after, in 1940 when his paternal grandfather passed away, his family moved back to the family farm northwest of Ong. Leonard went to country school and later graduated from the Ong Public School in 1958. After high school, he went south and worked on a harvest crew and also was an over-the-road truck driver. During that time, Leonard also served in the Army Reserve. In 1967, he married Maxine Forden and he moved his family back to the family farm doing what he loved best, being a farmer. In the mid 1980s Leonard moved to Beatrice and returned to over-the-road truck driving. He gave up long road trips to take a job at the Gage County Department of Roads until his retirement. Retirement didn’t suit him, and Leonard went back to work driving nursing home residents to their appointments and then later drove a school bus until 2020. In his retirement, he was often found helping his children. This included helping to build at least two kitchens, crewing for mud racing, and helping with the harvest. Leonard was a very talented builder and woodworker and could be found puttering in his garage. It seemed he could make or fix almost anything and was always prepared and organized. He loved his flower and vegetable gardens, as well as making sure the birds and squirrels had food. You might even find him at the races, maybe reminiscing about his younger days when he raced stock cars.

Leonard loved having family around and there are many stories of water gun fights, playing games, or other shenanigans. He loved Husker football and you knew you could always find him watching on game day. Leonard was a very social person. He loved people and never knew a stranger. He made them feel comfortable or would add some humor to brighten others days. Leonard had an amazingly positive outlook. During one instance when he was stranded in Iowa with a broken-down vehicle he said, “Well I sure got to talk to a lot of nice people.”

Leonard is survived by the loves of his life: his wife of 57 years, Maxine Gowen; children, Mona (Wayne) Geiser of Merna, Barb (Kim) Parsons of Holdrege, Tom Gowen and fiancée, April Cathey, of Sand Springs, OK, Audrey Gowen of St. Paul, MN, Chris Gowen of Beatrice, Carrie (Gail) Woodyard of Marysville, KS; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a set of twin boys; sister, Betty Boswell; and brothers, Gaylord Gowen and Gordon Gowen.

Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice, with Chaplain Jeanie Sedivy officiating. A graveside memorial service will be at the Ong Cemetery later in the year onJuly 19, 2025, at 2 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice in care of the mortuary. Condolences may be left online at www.harmanwrightmortuary. com.

Harman-Wright Mortuary & Crematory in Beatrice in charge of arrangements.