David Mcgowan

David R. McGowan, 78, Mosinee, died, Friday, March 23, 2018, at home.

He was born Nov. 06, 1939, in Mosinee, WI, the son of the late Ronald and Sophia (Sutkiewicz) McGowan. He married Helen Wawrzyniak on Sept. 20, 1958, in Mosinee, WI. She Survives.

Our father grew up on a dairy and produce farm in Peplin. He worked the fields with his parents Ronald and Sophia McGowan and grandparents Jordan and Anna Sutkiewicz. Also doing the original “Market Square” Wausau farmers market. In his free time, mischievous bee-bee gun practice, hunting, trapping and riding his horse “Champ” to High School was the norm. “Cowboy” was the apple of his mother’s eye and could do no wrong. David was one of central Wisconsin’s top boxers, competing in the fierce and competitive golden glove league.

Once Saturday evening, with his perfect “duck-tail” hair, he and best friend Eddie Dziak attended “A Little Wally Dance” where David met a shy Helen Wawrcyniak. He said to his friend “I’m going to marry that girl”, a two-year romance blossomed. And in 1958, with the blessing of his mother, the underage “Davie” was allowed to marry. In 1960 at the age of 21, David was promoted to a managerial position at American Motors in Kenosha. In 1969 David and Helen came back to Mosinee to take over his parent’s business, Red’s Market on the Market Square. In the 1980’s they moved the business to the present location on Business Hwy 51 in Rothschild, renaming it “Little Red’s Market”. Where today, the business is the largest original, true produce and greenhouse market. With his passing “Little Red’s Market” will open this April 15th, with his wife Helen, and great-niece Tina Simonis as manager, dad would have it no other way.

In the 1970’s Dave was president of the Eau Pleine Snowmobile Club and was also founder and president of the present day “Wausau Farmers Market”. David also had a side business “McGowan Furs”, where he bought thousands of deer hides and other wild animal pelts. David and Helen enjoyed their annual hunting and fishing trips, all over the nation, with Pat and Joe Olszewski or Chuck and Shirley Taylor.

In later years, they explored the southwest and wintered in Naples, Florida with Melvin and Maggie Van Ert. David was also a member and founder of “The Central Wisconsin Produce Auction Company” in Owen Withee. The friendships he forged and developed are still as strong as ever within the Amish and Mennonite Communities. In 2005 David started another business, “The Two Sister’s Wedding Chapel”. Purchasing the Seven Day Adventists Church, at the Moon Cemetery. He took great pride in the restoration, as Helen’s Grandmother (Charlotte Boettcher) was an original member.

One of David’s greatest pleasures was going to auctions, either produce or estate, it was a weekly event, everyone knew “Red”. He prized his gun and coin collection, appreciated antiques, enjoyed researching coins, and reading “Antique Auction News”. In 2015 the old post office in downtown Mosinee was available, and “The Sunday Place” antique and estate sale shop was established. With his son Shawn, an antiques dealer of 40 years, a unique one of a kind shop was opened. Staying true to its name “The Sunday Place” hours are Sunday’s from 10-4, or by private appointment.

Survivors, besides his wife Helen; include four children, Shawn McGowan, Mosinee, Tammy McGowan, Mosinee, Terri (Ken) VanderWaal, Mosinee, and Brian Duranceau-McGowan, Mosinee; five grandchildren, Lucas and Austin Lechnir and KayLee and Lee Roy Pecha and Kami Duranceau-McGowan; one brother, Emil (Patty) McGowan, Wausau; one sister, Gloria (Tom) Fuhrman, Wausau. David was preceded in death by one brother; Patrick McGowan; and two sisters, Myrtle Dowell, and Gladys Duranceau.

Services will be at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, and Wednesday, March 27 and 28, 2018, at Two Sister’s Wedding Chapel, Mosinee. The Rev. Marion Talaga will officiate. Visitation will be from 12 noon each day until time of services each day all at the chapel. Beste Funeral Home, Mosinee, assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.bestefh.com

The family would like to thank Dr. David Tange, the staff at Mount View Care Center, and Lexie Schremp from “Visiting Angels” and her team, Mary and Karen. A very special thanks to Ali of Aspirus Hospice Care, the Mosinee Fire Department, great friends and neighbors for their thoughts, prayers, time and effort. And Father Marion Talaga, for offering spiritual comfort during these difficult times.