Kathryn "Kay" L. McGowan

Kathryn “Kay” McGowan, of Grand Island, NE, died Friday, December 15, 2023, at Tabitha at Prairie Commons in Grand Island. Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. The Rev. Donald A. Buhrman will be the celebrant.  Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Apfel Funeral Home with a wake service at 6:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to St. Leo’s Catholic Church.

Kay was born on March 26, 1932 in Wood River, NE to Charles and Ruth (Mitchell) Davis. She attended school in Wood River and graduated in 1949. She went on and taught at country school district 27 and district 35. During that time she met Charles “Chuck” McGowan at the Quivira Ball Room in Grand Island. The couple were married on June 5, 1952 in Wood River, NE. To this union were four children: Bob, Kathleen, Dan and Shay. After teaching school, Kay worked at Overhead Door for 20 years. 

She enjoyed and was an accomplished bowler. Competing at Nationals several times. She also enjoyed gardening, flowers, traveling, and spending time with her family. Cherishing all the time she was able to spend with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church and the Saddle Club.

She is survived by her children: Bob (Carol) McGowan of Richmond, VA, Kathleen (Frank) Souhrada of Des Moines, IA, Dan (Ann) McGowan of Kearney, and Shay (Jacey) McGowan of Grand Island; grandchildren: Michelle (Alex) Klein, Erin (Patrick) Wilkinson, Hanna (Casey Shumberger) Souhrada, Haley (Lee) Snell, Harper Souhrada, Jake McGowan, Maggie McGowan, Kinley McGowan, Madelyn (Luke) Luxford, Ethan (Abby) McGowan, Evan (Therin Baum) McGowan, great grandchildren, Max and Felix Klein, Savannah and Miles Wilkinson, Sonny Shumberger, Winnie and Walt Snell, William Luxford and Maverick and Ellie McGowan; and sister, Dorothy Biamont of Portland, OR.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings Audrey, Loretta, Jack, Jean, Pat, Dorothy, Jim, Betty, Ann and Bill.