D. Gordon "Gordie" Kowing

MADISON/MONONA –D. Gordon "Gordie" Kowing, age 87, of Madison and Monona, peacefully passed away on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. He was born on April 5, 1928, in Madison, to Franklin and Rose (O'Brien) Kowing. Gordie graduated from Madison Central High School as an All-City football and baseball player, and became a Badger. He played offensive and defensive tackle on the Badgers football team until he suffered an injury, and then was a heavyweight boxer for the famed UW Boxing Team. Gordie disliked boxing because, as a heavyweight, he had to box last, and he hated seeing his teammates return from their bouts beaten and bloody; however, he liked the workouts and the team, so he stuck with it. In 1952, Gordie earned a double bachelor's degree in Construction Management and Civil Engineering from UW-Madison. After graduation, Gordie served in the Korean Conflict, where he was a Sgt. 1st Class in the Infantry and Heavy Mortar Divisions. He earned two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman Badge "for being first in the chow line," or so he told us. He married the lovely Caroline Dohmeyer on Sept. 4, 1954, a marriage which proved to be the best move he ever made, and produced four lovely daughters. Because of this, Gordie considered himself "The luckiest guy in the world." Gordie worked for Boeing first in Washington, and later in New York as a facilities engineer. Longing for home, Gordie and Carol moved their growing family back to Madison where he worked as an engineer for the Wisconsin-Bureau of Engineering from 1961 until 1968 before eventually becoming a partner in The Madsen Corporation, where, joined by Carol, he developed and managed senior housing in three states. The Madsen Corporation provided Carol and Gordie with a vast extended family and the best professional years of their lives. Everywhere Gordie went he made lifelong friends with his charm, positive outlook and fantastic humor. Over his career Gordie sat on many boards and committees that influenced the direction and development of the causes they served. Gordie leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Caroline; daughters, Terry (Michael) Crouchet of Minneapolis, Minn., Kathleen (Bruce) Schreiner of Tempe, Ariz., and Jeannie (Mike Marquardt) Kowing of Madison; son-in-law, Clyde (LeAnn Pope) McGregor of Winnetka, Ill.; 11 grandchildren, Caitlin (Colton) Altobell, Gordon, Lara, Margaret, Amy, and Claire McGregor, Casey and Alyssa Schreiner, and Brent, Leslie, and Leanne Schaefer; three great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Janet Kowing and Mary Kowing; and three brothers-in-law, Robert Olson, David (Dawn) Dohmeyer and William (Sharon) Dohmeyer. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Joan Kowing McGregor; his parents; brothers, Charles, Richard "Bub", Warren "Duane", Dallas, and Loren "Bud" Kowing; sister, Loraine Olson; and his parents-in-law, Elroy and Alice Dohmeyer. Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at noon, on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. A luncheon will be served afterward at THE EAST SIDE CLUB, 3735 Monona Drive, Madison. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Gordie and Carol's favorite local charities, Porchlight (porchlightinc.org) or Madison-Area Urban Ministry (emum.org). Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420