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Obituaries

Obituary: William O. McGowan

Bill McGowan had a zest for life and love of nature.

William O. McGowan, “Bill,” was born August 4, 1945. He passed away from complications after a life as a diabetic. Bill grew up in the Chicago area and went to Carl Sandburg High School.

In 1967 he graduated from Ripon College, in Ripon,Wisconsin, with a major in economics. After college he worked in Madison, WI, Chicago, and Minneapolis. He had a long and happy working life with General Mills where he developed many extraordinary and long-lasting friendships.  

Bill loved being with his children and grandchildren and especially enjoyed taking them and his friends on his boat on Lake Minnetonka. You are likely to find one of Bill's "sacrificial watches" at the bottom of a lake, a seemingly annual, accidental, summertime ritual.

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Bill got an early and life-long love of nature from his mother. He enjoyed being out of doors, taking long walks and working on his lawn and garden, as well as watching and identifying birds. He especially loved traveling north with his son and son-in-law and other good buddies for an annual fishing trip in northern Canada. He liked to talk about the "one that got away" and smoke cigars while trolling for a big walleye or a feisty northern.

He enjoyed playing golf with friends though he considered himself mediocre at best. The monthly poker night with more friends was also a favorite. Bill enjoyed traveling both in the United States and to foreign countries as well as finding good restaurants and drinking good wine.  He lived his life as he told his children to—with gratitude, honor, and a zest for life.

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Bill was preceded in death by his father, William, and mother, Gertrude Binns, and granddaughter, Anya Sobiech.  He is survived by his beloved twin sister, Sarah; daughter, Karin (Paul Sobiech) and son and best friend, Michael (Kimberly); six grandchildren, Eli, Ian and Mila Sobiech and Jake, Riley and Jamison McGowan; special friend Jill Peacock; and many devoted friends.

Bill was a "helluva" guy with a warm caring spirit. Once you met Bill, you met a friend. He will be sorely missed by his loving family and wonderful friends.

A summer memorial is planned.  Bill had two favorite charities: Anya's Friends, 3764 Newton Street, Denver, CO 80211 and Disabled American Veterans, P.O. 14301, Attn: Gift Program, Cincinnati, OH 45250.

in Wayzata

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