William O Cowan

William (Bill) Cowan, 83, of Dassel, MN died June 6, 2022 at Methodist Hospital. A memorial service will be held at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Dassel, MN at 11:00 a.m. August 25, 2022 with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. William (Bill) Cowan was born Dec. 30, 1938 in Minneapolis, MN to parents Walter and Esther Cowan. He was baptized June 9, 1940 by his father's uncle, Rev. Ole Akre. He graduated from Patrick Henry High School and after completing his degree at Augsburg College he attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Rock Island, IL, graduating in May, 1967 and was ordained into the ministry at Gustavus Adolphus College in June, 1967. Bill served parishes in Proctor, MN (1967-1974), and Ortonville, MN (1974-1978). He was awarded a fellowship in clinical pastoral counseling at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, KS, and then became area administrator for Lutheran Social Service in Grand Island, NE. In 1986 he returned to MN to work as a counselor for Lutheran Social Service. He also had a private counseling practice. At the time of his retirement he was employed by Cigna Behavioral Health, managing mental health care. It was in Rock Island, IL that Bill, as a 2nd year seminarian met his future wife, Beverly, a freshman at Augustana College. They were married August 20, 1966 in Maywood, IL Together they had two children, son Brian William and daughter Britt Rachelle. Bill immensely enjoyed reading, particularly history, going for coffee with friends, playing poker with his psychologist friends and sharing life with Bev and his children and grandchildren, of whom he was extremely proud. Bill is survived by his wife, Beverly; son Brian William Cowan and his partner, Amy Alt; daughter Britt Rachelle Galen and husband, Ari; grandsons Noah and Gabriel Galen; granddaughter, Anaiah Galen; sister, MaryAnn Jordan; brother Lawrence (Larry) and sister-in-law Nancy Cowan; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Esther Cowan; sister Shirley Cowan (1933); sister Betty Cowan (1938); brother Wayne Cowan (1939) and brother Walter Cowan, Jr.(2003).

William O Cowan

December 30, 1938 - June 6, 2022