How do you summarize and honor the life of an amazing man that touched and impacted so many lives over almost 99 years on Earth? Leslie J. Gowan, the man, the myth, the Legend was born June 12, 1925, to Leslie E and Livonia (Clark) Gowan in Moberly Missouri, where he grew up as an only child in a small peaceful Midwestern community. While finishing High School, World War 2 had already begun. In his HS yearbook, Les, a strapping curly-headed young Lad, in addition to playing basketball, was listed as a Musician. A Musician is what would ultimately define and shape his world, and would be his lifelong calling! In 1942, while going to enlist with the Navy, the Marines took a shine to young Master Gowan, and he was hand-picked to join the Marine Corps Band in California. That is how he served our Great Country as a Proud Marine.
This is where he met his first wife, Wynona (James) Gowan (deceased), mother to Les’ eldest daughter Cheryl K Fox, and recently deceased son Daniel W. Gowan. After the War, and a divorce, Les returned back to Moberly Missouri, where he went to work for the Wabash Railroad. In 1951, the Marines called and Les reported for Trumpet Duty during the Korean War. Les returned to Moberly and married to now deceased Martha (Richardson) Gowan, mother to Les’ three other beloved (mistakes) children Dennis Wayne (Dottie), Jeffrey Jay (Micky), and Beverly Ann (Gowan) Kramer (Mark). In 1956, the family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. A man of many talents, Les worked for the Wabash Railroad by day in freight sales, but his nights, weekends and holidays were filled with various professional gigs playing the trumpet, his first love. Les also enjoyed marching and playing with the Shriners in parades or at the Circus.
In 1968, Les was transferred by the now Norfolk and Western Railroad to work in Manhattan, New York at the PanAm building, and was in charge of sales for the Eastern Seaboard for Norfolk and Western. To accommodate them, He moved his family to the North (New) Jersey Shore area, ripe with all kinds of great opportunities for his family (surfing, etc), and commuted daily by train to New York City, Grand Central Station. Besides instilling his love of music into his family, he also instilled the drive to be adventurous and the ability to fit in. In 1972, Les moved the family back to St. Louis where he opened a movie theater (the family business). After a challenging career in Movie Theater Operations, and divorce, he then rejoined the same company, now the Norfolk and Southern Railroad, married Helen Vance of Moberly, and moved to New Orleans to finish his railroad work career (40 years).
Retirement brought Les to Venice, FL in 1987, where he could finally focus on music full time, and he was never busier! Les helped start the Venice Concert Band, (First Chair Trumpet until 90), and also started his own band, Tin Pan Alley. Les enjoyed singing and playing trumpet to the Big Band Sounds and entertaining the fine folks of Venice until he retired at 93. Les, always a Christian, helped start a Christian Church in Venice, and enjoyed playing at the Central Baptist Church. On Wednesday nights, Les absolutely loved being first in line to have dinner at Mi Pueblo Restaurant and enjoy the trumpeters with the Mariachi Band,a family favorite. Venice is also where he had the privilege to be the “Gramps” to Sydney Young (Granddaughter to Helen), of Venice, married to Trent Young and Mother to Trent Young, Jr. Theirs is a Special Love and Bond that has endured for 40 years.
Always the consummate Ladies Man, Les was fruitful and multiplied! He had 5 (mistakes) Children, 12 wonderful Grandchildren, 18 Great Grandchildren, and 4 Great Great Grandchildren, which is Great!
If you wish to pay your respects or say farewell to Les, Visitation will be Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at the Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home on Tamiami Trail in Venice from 1-2, and Les’ Funeral Services will be held immediately thereafter at 2pm. At 3pm there will be a burial ceremony at the Venice Memorial Gardens Cemetery on Center Road.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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