George H. Magowan

George “Skip” Magowan, 78, of Hayward, Wis., died on Sunday, September 4, 2011, at the Hayward Area Memorial Hospital.

George H. Magowan was born on February 26, 1933, in Bloomfield, N.J., the son of the late George and Hilda (Riggs) Magowan. On May 2, 1959, he was united in marriage to Elinor (May) Magowan in Morristown, N.J.

After serving in the U.S. Army for two years, he then attended and graduated from the General Motors Institute and was employed by GM in Flint, Mich., from 1951-1972, where he was in charge of the Buick Riviera Assembly Plant. He worked for PRF-Travco in Brown City, Mich., from 1972-1974. In 1974, he began working for Republic Steel in Youngstown. Republic Steel purchased Mooney Aircraft, of which he was president from 1975-1977, and lived in Kerrville, Texas. The family then moved to Van Wert, where he continued to work for Republic Steel until 1982. From 1982-1984, he went into business for himself with his company, Insul Core. In 1984, he took employment with Ameriquip, which took him to live in Lester Prairie, Minn., Sioux Falls, S.D., and Kiel, Wis., until his retirement in 2000, at which time he moved to Hayward.

During retirement, Skip enjoyed and was very proud to work with J&E Manufacturing. While living in Van Wert, Skip served on the board of trustees for Van Wert County Hospital, was involved in Van Wert Rotary Club and also the Elks. In 2005, Skip began wintering in Green Valley, Ariz., where he split his time serving the Lions Clubs in Hayward and Green Valley. He enjoyed hunting, traveling, and fishing, which took him on one of the highlights of his life – a fishing trip to Alaska with his boys in 2005.

Skip is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elinor, in Hayward; two sons, Jeff (Carrie) Magowan of Escanaba, Mich., and John Magowan of Hayward, Wis.; four grandchildren, Rachel, Morgan and Daniel Magowan, and Sarah Lopshire; a daughter-in-law, Karen Magowan Lautzenheiser; and many other family and friends.

A son, George E. Magowan, also preceded him in death in 2006.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 6, at Anderson Nathan Koerpel Funeral Home, with Pastor Gary Hilgendorf officiating.

Calling hours are from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: Hayward Area Memorial Hospital, attn.: Chemotherapy Nurses, in George’s name, at 11040N State Road 77, Hayward, WI 54843, or to the Hayward Lions Club, PO Box 306, Hayward, WI 54843.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.andersonnathan.com.