Jack Ronald Gower

Jack Ronald Gower, age 76, of 1811 S. 24th Street, Quincy died Saturday (June 11, 2011), at 10:35 pm in Skyline Medical Center, Nashville, TN. Jack was born September 18, 1934 in Quincy, Illinois, the son of Elmer and Margaret Slater Gower.  He married Nancy Ann Vahlkamp on September 10, 1955 in Quincy.  She survives. He was a 1952 graduate of Quincy High School. In 1956 he received his Bachelor Degree of Science in Business from Bradley University, and he was the President of Dads' Board of Directors for two years.  Jack was a Captain and pilot in U. S. Air Force from 1957-1959 where he was assigned to five different duty stations. Jack retired after a 34 year career as Commodity Manager with Moorman Mfg, and he served as President of their Advisory Board. Jack played basketball for the QHS Blue Devils in the 1952 State Championship game, and for the Bradley Braves in the 1954 NCAA National Championship game. Jack was especially proud of the fact that both Championship title basketball games were the first to ever be televised at the time.  He was inducted into the Blue Devil Hall of Fame, the Illinois State High School Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Bradley University Hal...[more]

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ll of Fame.  Jack was one of five people who started the well known "Little Peoples" golf tournament in Quincy which draws young golfers from around the world. Jack was a self taught golfer, an enthusiastic card player, an avid fisherman, and a highly respected duck hunter.  He enjoyed entertaining his friends, family and grandsons at "Cabin #11" on the Mississippi River, and he treasured his time with the "Romeos". He was a member of First Christian Church, the Elks Lodge #100, the Bradley B Club, the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, the Noon Optimist Club where he was a board member, the YMCA where he served as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and President, the North American Hunting Club, the National management Association Quincy Club where he was First Vice President, and he served as a Boy Scout Commissioner. He has been a member of Cedar Crest Country Club for over forty years where he served on the board of directors and was a past Men's Club Golf Champion. Survivors also include his two sons, Jeffrey (Jayne Wakeman) Gower of The Villages, Florida, and Steven (Susan) Gower of North Ft. Myers, Florida, and two grandsons, Max and Jack Gower. Other surviving relatives include Bill and Helen Slater, Lillian Gaines, Kenneth Lakey and Irene Donhardt. Jack was preceded in death by his parents. Services: 11:00 am Thursday, June 16, 2011 at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home, with Rev. Tracy Armstrong officiating Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois with military rites by American Legion Post #37 and Illinois Military Honors. Visitation: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Wednesday at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home Memorials: Blessing Cancer Center or First Christian Church www.hansenspear.com Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.