Barbara Cowgill

Barbara Caryl (Kindscher) Cowgill died peacefully in Monona, Wis. on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, concluding a remarkably wonderful life of over 101 years. She was born in Guide Rock, Neb., on Jan. 17, 1914, to parents John Samuel and Mary Aileen (McPherson) Kindscher. Their youngest daughter, she enjoyed a rural childhood with her loving sisters, Marjorie and Ariel; brother, Gordon; and many local aunts, uncles, cousins, and school age friends in Guide Rock. She became skilled as a musician/pianist and seamstress, and devoted her early years to teaching in Nebraska after graduating from Hastings College with a Bachelor of Arts. She married the love of her life, Bruce Eric Cowgill, on June 2, 1940, and together they subsequently raised their three sons, Bruce Kent, Lale Douglas, and John Scott in Silver Creek, Neb. After her children reached school age, she resumed teaching, acclaimed for her skills in Kindergarten, secondary English, Home Economics, and Spanish. She was widely recognized for her graceful abilities to blend family, school, friends, and her lifelong deep Christian faith. She entertained countless guests of all ages and avocations in her home with remarkable dinners, often using recipes from her published family and Home Economics cookbooks. As a devoted wife, she assisted Bruces pursuit of his doctorate in education from the University of Nebraska, and later his widely acclaimed achievements in Nebraskas, and national, conservation endeavors (including the historic Acres for Wildlife program). She also always supported and encouraged the careers of her children in their individual pursuits of teaching, writing, coaching, and cardiac surgery. Her Christmas poems, blending the years family highlights with her strong faith in the redeeming power and presence of the Lord, were annual classics. She was also very proud of her children, their lovely wives and families, her Swiss/Scottish heritage, her Nebraska prairie hardiness, and especially enjoyed the large family celebration of her 100th birthday in San Antonio, Texas on Jan. 17, 2014. Her multiple hobbies and interests included travel, a love of the outdoors, swing dancing with Bruce, horseback riding, tennis with family and friends, pheasant and antelope hunting, attending with Bruce the Cornhusker home football games, Bible study, Scrabble, and planning the next family meal. She was very active in the Silver Creek Methodist Church, and taught Sunday school and MYF for many years.

Along with all of her childhood family, she is preceded in death by her dear and devoted husband, Bruce; gifted and beloved son, Scott; and many special relatives and friends. She is survived by her sons, Kent (Jane) of Houston, Minn., and Douglas (Carol) of Madison, Wis.; daughter-in-law, Nancy of Carrollton, Texas; nine grandchildren, Eric (Kari), Andy, CJ (Shahidrah), Koty (Mariah), KC, Douglas (Rajni), John, Colleen, and Natalie; and six great-grandchildren, Katja, Simone, Camden, Kaden, Jordan John, and Lailah; special nieces, Lila Lee (David) Tobey and family (Greg, Becka Jane, Vicki and Curt, Robyn and Gary) of Mesa, Ariz., Madeline (Nelson) Rasmuson, Leif (Nicole), Annika; and sister-in-law and incomparable, good ole days confidant, Dr. Donna Crosley of Sebastopol, Calif.; cousins, Lewis and Pamela Hunter of Superior, Neb.; daughter-in-law, Beth Robbins of Davis,Calif.; and many special family members including the Kindschers in Guide Rock and Beloit, Kansas, Phillips families of northern California and Oklahoma, cousin, Mary Terrell and McPherson families in Long Island and elsewhere, the Binegars, the Ziegler families in Monroe, Neb., and many additional relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Silver Creek Methodist Church, or the Barbara Kindscher Cowgill Scholarship at Hastings (Nebraska) College. The family would like to extend special thanks to the physicians (including Drs. David Sorber, Al Singer, Rick Baker, Mike Snyder, Douglas Davenport, Todd Eckleberg, and Brian Frederick), exceptional nurses and staff at Dean Clinic/St. Marys Hospital, Capitol Lakes Nursing Home, and Agrace HospiceCare , the wonderful staff and many resident friends at Heritage Assisted Living in Monona, Wis., and especially her many friends, including Ted Wyman, Dorothy Burger, Jessie Hendrickson, Betty Cave, Kathleen Starostka, and so many others she would have liked included here, in the Silver Creek Methodist and Catholic Churches, and surrounding area. The family hopes she will always be remembered for her beautiful, heartwarming smile, and her rock-hard belief for all, that: THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT.