James John McGowan Sr.

1933 - 2023

05/09/1933 - 1/7/2023 James John McGowan, Sr, 89, of Castaic, went home to his Lord on Saturday, January 7, 2023. Jim was born May 9, 1933, in Jersey City, NJ to Joseph and Alice (Sherlock) McGowan. Jim was raised in Brooklyn, NY and attended Good Shepherd Catholic School and Brooklyn Technical HS, graduating in 1951. Upon graduation, Jim joined the US Air Force. At his going away party, a sweet young lady who crashed the party caught his eye, she became the love of his life, Joan MacLellan. He and Joan were married January 2, 1954 and began their big adventure. After serving our country, Jim and Joan returned to Brooklyn and Jim attended college at night pursuing his dream of being a lighting engineer. As their family grew, so did their homes in Long Island and Maywood, NJ. In July 1971, Jim moved the family to the West Coast settling in Canoga Park. On March 17, 2000, Jim finally retired after 6 decades with Strand Lighting and moved to the Fair Oaks Ranch area of Canyon Country. Jim's career of engineering lighting boards for theatres took him all over the world. Italy; Venezuela; Hawaii; and the University of Notre Dame were among his favorite places he had worked. A devout Catholic, Jim was a member of Our Lady of the Valley in Canoga Park and St. Clare in Canyon Country and served the church in many capacities, counselor with Marriage Encounter, as a Eucharistic Minister, annual Lenten Fish Fry's, and with his blessed voice in the church choir. In his retirement, he enjoyed singing with the Silver Tone Singers of Santa Clarita where nobody could do a rendition of Danny Boy better than him. He also loved performing with the troupe at Canyon Theatre Guild in Newhall CA Jim is survived by his 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren; a brother and sister. Sons: Terry (Marina), Tim (Pam), and Jim Jr. (Julie) and daughters Colleen and Cathy (Rob Leahy). Daughter in-laws: Lori Friedman, Theresa Robertson, Susan McGowan. Brother Joseph (Betty) McGowan and sister Josephine Myers. Grandchildren: Meghan McGowan, Lacey (David Nogueira), Kristin (Ricky Johnson), Paddy, Chelsea, Bronte, Asher McGowan; Matthew and Morgan McGowan; Claire (fianc‚ Kurt Collins) and Tara Leahy; Casey, Caitlin, and Cailee (Samantha) McGowan. Great grandchildren Irelyn, Chloe, Grayson, Flynn Nogueira. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; son Jeff, brother Michael and his wife Jean, sisters Alice and her husband John (Jack) Scanlan; Jane and her husband Thomas Quinn. At your discretion, Jim had requested flowers, or donations made to his favorite charities, Special Olympics Los Angeles, National Emphysema Foundation, American Cancer Society, or American Heart Association. Visitation and Rosary: Friday, February 10, 2023, 4-8pm Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary 11160 Stanwood Ave, Mission Hills, CA 91345 Funeral Mass: Saturday, February 11, 2023, 2pm St. Clare Catholic Church 19606 Calla Way, Canyon Country, CA 91351