Leonard Clem Gowen, 85 years of age, a Beatrice resident passed away at home on Jan. 20, 2025. Funeral services were held in January. A graveside service will be held at the Ong Cemetery July 19, 2025, at 2 p.m. After the service, the family invites you to linger and visit as you are able. We know Leonard would be delighted if you wore your favorite Husker shirt or something else that was cool and comfortable. 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 was an over the road truck driver. During that time, Leonard also served in the Army Reserves. 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 he went back to work driving nursing home residents to their appointments and then later drove a school bus until 2020.

In his retirement, Leonard was often found helping his children, including helping build at least two kitchens, crewing for mud racing and helping with the harvest. Leonard was a very talented builder and woodworker. He loved his flower and vegetable gardens as well as making sure the birds and squirrels had food. And you might even find him at the races, 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 and 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 lived life with an amazingly positive outlook.

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 Holdredge, Tom (April) Gowen of Sand Springs, OK, Audrey Gowen of St. Paul, MN, Chris Gowen of Beatrice, Carrie (Gail) Woodyard of Marysville, KS; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.