Robert L. "Bob" MacGowan

Robert "Bob" L. MacGowan

March 3, 1941-February 13, 2022

PORT BYRON-Robert "Bob" L. MacGowan, 80, of Port Byron, IL, died Sunday, February 13, 2022 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. Celebration of Life Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Gibson - Bode Funeral Home in Port Byron, IL. Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Port Byron. Memorials may be made to the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House.

Bob was born on March 3, 1941 in Iowa City, IA, the son of Bruce and Evelyn (Maxson) MacGowan. He graduated from West Liberty High School in West Liberty, IA in 1960. After high school, Bob worked as a machine operator and as a tool room supervisor for Rohner Machine Works in West Liberty for 13 years. He then went into sales for Kennametal Carbide Cutting Tools in Latrobe, PA as a machine systems engineer, later retiring in 2003.

Bob married Kathy Wagner in 1964, they later divorced. In 1968 he married Barbara Jean Ritchie. She preceded him in 1989. In 1991 he married Patricia Behm who survives him. He had several things that he really cared about and loved. First, above all others was a love for his family, all six of "his" children, 14 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren were "his kids". He was always very proud of each of them and their accomplishments.

As a young man, Bob loved fast cars. His first car was a 1957 chevy with a 283 cubic inch motor. He said it was VERY fast! In 1967-1968 he drove a "rail" front engine dragster at Cordova International Raceway for Ditmars Brothers Racing out of West Liberty, IA. He loved to talk about his experiences, including his fastest time of 160 miles per hour in about 9 seconds.

His life long love was the game of golf. He was a master student, always watching, reading and playing. He enjoyed teaching his kids and grandkids the game. He was a volunteer coach for the boy's golf team at Geneseo High School from 2009-2012. After retiring in 2003, he and his wife would follow the boy's and girl's golf teams to all of their meets. One of the perks of retirement was spending 15 years wintering in The Villages, Florida, where he could play golf all winter long.

Bob is survived by his wife, Patricia; daughters, Carolyn (John) Ford of Wilton, IA, Pamela (Richard) Snell of Geneseo, IL; sons, James (Deb) Ritchie of The Villages, FL, Charles (Tori) Ritchie of The Villages, FL, David (Terry) Behm of Eldridge, IA; daughter-in-law Michele Ritchie of The Villages, FL; grandchildren, Kasey (Paul) Ott of Marble Rock, IA, Justin (Yesenia) Ford of Muscatine, IA, Dustin (Erin) Ritchie of Baton Rouge, LA, LCDR Daniel Ritchie United States Navy, currently stationed in Guam, Douglas (Jordan) Ritchie of Bloomingdale, GA, Andrew (Amy) Ritchie of Colorado Springs, CO, Corey Ritchie of Colorado Springs, CO, Lucas Ritchie of Ankeny, IA, Sarah Ritchie of Ankeny IA, Richard Snell III (Emily Burke) of Cedar Falls, IA, Emma Snell of Geneseo, IL, Lauren Behm of Eldridge, IA, Cal Behm of Eldridge, IA, Kendall Behm of Eldridge, IA; and a brother Ronald MacGowan of East Moline, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents Bruce and Evelyn MacGowan; wife, Barbara Jean MacGowan; son, Eugene Ritchie; great grandson, Parker Ott; and a sister, Barbra Roby. Share a memory or condolence at www.gibsonbodefh.com.