- Date Of Birth: March 5, 1918
- Date Of Death: November 9, 2017
- State: Nebraska
Viola Odessa McGowan the daughter of Thomas C. and Dagmar (Andersen) Petersen was born March 5, 1918 on a farm in Nuckolls County, Nebraska north of Hardy. She departed this life on Thursday November 9, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Center in Superior, Nebraska at the age of 99 years, 8 months and 4 days.
Viola was baptized on March 29, 1918 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church at Hardy, Nebraska in 1932, of which she has been a member since. Viola attended Miller Country School for 8 years and graduated from Hardy High School with the class of 1935. She furthered her education by attending Kearney Teacher’s College for Normal Teacher’s Training. Viola taught at both Weimer and Oak Creek Country Schools for 3 years each. On September 23, 1943 Viola was united in marriage with Charles Dean McGowan at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Deshler, Nebraska. The couple farmed south of Hardy, Nebraska for 17 years, leaving the farm and moving to Superior, Nebraska in 1960. To this union two sons were born Stephen Dean in 1945 and Thomas Charles in 1950. Upon moving to Superior Dean was employed at Mid America Dairymen and Viola was a 20 year employee of Superior Public Schools.
Viola had been a member of Danish Brotherhood, St. Paul Lutheran Church Ladies Aid and 17 year Sunday School Teacher.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dean, brothers: Harvey and Alvin and sister Elna.
Survivors include her sons: Steve McGowan and wife Marlene of Superior, NE; Tom McGowan and wife Jane of Omaha, NE; sister in law Virginia Petersen of Belleville, KS; grandchildren: Kim and David Williams and of Superior, NE; Shaun McGowan of Fremont, NE; Mollie and Karl Lemberg of Dallas, TX; Kellie and Jason Krall of Wellington, New Zealand; Patrick McGowan and Katia Bergeron Cauchon of Ottawa, Canada; great grandchildren Heather Williams of Burbank, CA; Lauren and Jordan Isaacson of Superior, NE; Amy and Tim Meyers of San Francisco, CA; Rhys Williams of Omaha, NE; Caleb McGowan and girlfriend Oliva Scott of Omaha, NE; Hugo Lemberg; Avery and Harvey Krall; great great grandchildren, Avaleigh, Sawyer and Mason Isaacson and Jude Meyers; nieces, nephews other relatives and a host of friends.
814 Idaho Street
Superior, Nebraska 68978
402-879-3123