Robert "Gene" Cowman

Dad was born April 24, 1936 to Darold and Ruth Cowman in Percy, Iowa. He and his two brothers Donald and Gary, who preceded him in death, grew up in Knoxville Iowa before the family moved to the Des Moines metro. He graduated from East High School in 1955 and enlisted in the Army to proudly serve his country from 1955-1958. He drove tanks while in the Army.

After the military, he married Jane Albertson, who passed away in 2021, and they had one son, Mark Alan Cowman. Dad married Charlene Buckalew in 1966 and they had two sons, Robert Bradley & Todd Eugene Cowman. Dad's final, and longest lasting marriage, was to Jo Ann Danielson. They married in 1991 until JoAnn passed away just a few short months ago in May of this year. They were married for over 30 years. Dad and Jo loved to square dance, that’s actually how they met. Jo sewed her own square dance outfits and always used some of her dress material to make a matching scarf, tie, or other accessory for Dad to proudly wear to match her.

Dad had three sons, Mark Cowman (Janet Friedrich), Brad Cowman (Angela) and Todd Cowman (Saudia) but through his marriage to Jo he also gained four step-daughters, Linda Schroeder Tucker (Mike Tucker), Cheryl Malson (Walt Malson), Sherry Kirkman (Tom), and Donna Ehlert. Dad had 20 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

Dad loved to travel. Mark can remember going fishing with Dad and Uncle Gary and sleeping in the bed of the truck on the way to Spirit Lake because they would leave so early in the mornings. I guess the fishing tackle got the premium spot in the back seat. Brad and Todd have memories of traveling all over the United States but one trip in particular was going to Walt Disney World in Florida. They had a Simon Says game and left it on the floorboard of the car while they went into the park on that hot summer day. We came back to the car after a full day at the park and the Simon Says had melted to the floor mats, flat as a quarter, and making an awful groaning sound. Todd can remember one particular trip where Dad and Mom called us home from a friend's house in Pleasant Hill and surprised us with the news that we were going to take a trip to Florida. They wanted to know if we were excited. Of course we were! Who, as kids, didn’t like road trips or vacations? On another trip, Todd vividly remembers Dad driving all over Washington DC looking for a hotel room because he wasn’t willing to pay more than $75.00 a night for a hotel room. As much as Dad loved to travel and vacation, later in life home is what truly made Dad most comfortable.

Dad started his working career at Flynn Dairy, which became Prairie Farms Dairy which is now Roberts dairy as you all know it, in Des Moines, Iowa carrying milk and doing home to home delivery. We have fond memories of riding along with him in his milk truck and running milk up to the homes. And also of gorging ourselves on all the chocolate milk we could drink. After he retired from the milk business, more due to being pushed out by the big grocery stores and convenience stores than a desire to stop being a milkman, he went to work for the MTA, which is now Dart and drove paratransit buses. He retired from the MTA and finally got to enjoy the retirement life, although at first it was hard for him after so many years of driving and working.

He loved to drive as evidenced by his military and his working career. One thing we can all remember is Dad loved to buy new cars. As kids we were more excited for the dinner that followed than we were about the car because Dad would always want to go out to eat to celebrate the purchase.

Dad loved many things and many people. In addition to travel, fishing, and square dancing with his wife, he collected clowns, loved Christmas, and motorcycles. He loved to decorate for Christmas and even crafted his own handmade, wooden outdoor decorations. Every year he roped the family into helping him decorate. Usually after it was already cold out, of course. He had a love for motorcycles right up until his passing. He would frequently ask “Where’s my motorcycle?” even though he had been unable to ride and it had been sold many years ago. He started us boys out on mopeds and gave us our love of two wheels from a very young age. We carry his passion for two wheels to this day.

Dad was diagnosed with dementia quite a few years ago. It’s an awful disease that robs the person of their memory. Approximately 4 years ago, the family made the decision to move Dad to the Iowa Veterans Home (IVH) in Marshalltown, Iowa where he spent the last years of his life. There he received outstanding care and would take Dad out on field trips for ice cream and to look at Christmas lights, when he was still able.

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