A. James "Jim" McGowan Sr.

Jim McGowan, 74, died peacefully on Sept. 25, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jim was born May 4, 1940, in Dallas, Texas to Jennetta Cliff and George McGowan. A 26 year veteran of the U.S. Army, Jim left Dallas for basic training in Fort Carson, Colorado. An automotive aficionado his entire life, he attended Automotive School at Aberdeen Proving Grounds Maryland and saw his first military assignment in Berlin, Germany. It was there that he met the love of his life, Margarete, whom he married in 1961. A natural leader, Jim served as Drill Sergeant / Platoon Sergeant teaching Basic Infantry Tactics at Fort Ord, CA in 1964 and after receiving his Warrant Officer appointment, reported to Vietnam in May 1967. After a second tour in Vietnam in 1969, Jim settled with his growing family in the Monterey Peninsula and appreciated nearly ten years of periodic military assignments to Stuttgart, Berlin and Ludwigsburg, Germany. Retiring from the U.S. Army as a CW4 at Fort Ord in 1982, Jim faithfully served the residents of the City of Seaside, CA for another 13 years, before he retired again as Superintendent of General Services in 1997. Jim and Margaret built their retirement home in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002 and enjoyed many wonderful years there together. Jim continued his penchant for leading, coaching and helping others as he worked tirelessly to serve as Vice Chair and then Chairperson of the Las Vegas Veterans Consumer Advisory Council assisting Veterans with Veterans Affair issues, all the while fighting many service-related disabilities himself. Jim was a passionate volunteer, Co-founding / Co-hosting “Veteranstalk.com - The Forgotten Promise“, whose weekly radio broadcasts/online webcasts help veterans of the armed forces thrive and apply for and receive the benefits they are due. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Margarete; daughter Jennett M. Hill of Indianapolis; son A. James McGowan Jr. of Portland; daughter Georgina Wigeson of Shreveport; and six grandchildren. Jim will be laid to rest at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City on October 7, 2014. Services commence at 1120 a.m. At Jim’s request and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Veterans Care Foundation, Inc., 256 Enadia Street, Henderson, NV 89074, www.veteranscarefoundation.us