Jack Ronald Gower

Jack Ronald Gower, 76, of 1811 S. 24th St., Quincy, died at 10:35 p.m. Saturday (June 11, 2011) in Skyline Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.

Jack was born Sept. 18, 1934, in Quincy, a son of Elmer and Margaret Slater Gower. He married Nancy Ann Vahlkamp on Sept. 10, 1955, in Quincy. She survives.

He was a 1952 graduate of Quincy High School. In 1956, he received his bachelor's degree of science in business from Bradley University, and he was the president of Dads' Board of Directors for two years.

Jack was a captain and pilot in the U.S. Air Force from 1957-1959, where he was assigned to five different duty stations. Jack retired after a 34-year career as commodity manager with Moorman Manufacturing Co., and he served as president of its advisory board.

Jack played basketball for the QHS Blue Devils in the 1952 state championship game, and for the Bradley Braves in the 1954 NCAA national championship game. Jack was especially proud of the fact that both championship basketball games were the first ever to be televised at the time. He was inducted into the Blue Devil Hall of Fame, the Illinois State High School Basketball Hall of Fame and the Bradley University Hall of Fame. Jack was one of five people who started the well known Little People's golf tournament in Quincy, which draws young golfers from around the world.

Jack was a self-taught golfer, an enthusiastic card player, an avid fisherman and a highly respected duck hunter. He enjoyed entertaining his friends, family and grandsons at "Cabin 11" on the Mississippi River, and he treasured his time with the "Romeos."

He was a member of First Christian Church; the Elks Lodge 100; the Bradley B Club; the Quincy Chamber of Commerce; the Noon Optimist Club, where he was a board member; the YMCA, where he served as secretary, treasurer, vice-president and president; the North American Hunting Club; the National Management Association Quincy Club, where he was first vice president; and he served as a Boy Scout commissioner. He was a member of Cedar Crest Country Club for more than 40 years, where he served on the board of directors and was a past men's club golf champion.

Survivors also include his two sons, Jeffrey (Jayne Wakeman) Gower of The Villages, Fla., and Steven (Susan) Gower of North Fort Myers, Fla.; and two grandsons, Max and Jack Gower. Other surviving relatives include Bill and Helen Slater, Lillian Gaines, Kenneth Lakey and Irene Donhardt.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents.

SERVICES: 11 a.m. Thursday at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home, with the Rev. Tracy Armstrong officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Quincy, with military rites by American Legion Post 37 and Illinois Military Honors.

VISITATION: 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

MEMORIALS: Blessing Cancer Center or First Christian Church.

ARRANGEMENTS: Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

WEBSITE: www.hansenspear.com

Condolences may be expressed online at www@whig.com.