LOUIS L. GOWANS, JR. Louis L. Gowans, Jr., 95, passed away on September 13, 2017 at Straub Hospital. Lou was born on March 16, 1922 in Honolulu, HI to Louis Lyman Gowans, Sr. and Helen Taylor Gowans. Lou grew up in Kaimuki and on Round Top Drive where he helped his father build both of the houses they lived in. He graduated from Punahou School in 1940 and with a handful of classmates attended Cal Tech in Pasadena, CA. His studies there were interrupted by WWII and he followed in his father's footsteps by training to be a pilot in the Navy. The war ended shortly after his training and he was put on reserve duty and then honorably discharged. He resumed his college education at Stanford University graduating with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1946. Lou met his first wife at Cal Tech and together they moved to Honolulu where he was an engineer at Delmonte Cannery. He later married Jean Yaeko Kuniyuki, who was a secretary there, in 1961 and they were happily married for 56 years. Lou eventually left Delmonte and went to work for Magoon Brothers. By 1980 Lou's father was ready to hand over the family business, Metropolitan Properties, Ltd., and Lou, as President, ran the company until 2012 when he turned the reins over to his daughter, Julie. Unable to fully "retire" he became the CEO and stayed involved with the business until the day of his death. Education was very important to Lou's parents and they instilled this in him. During his life he supported many educational scholarships and funds at the schools he attended. He also set up a Daedalian/ROTC scholarship at the University of Hawaii and gave generously to the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation. People who knew Lou were entertained with his stories of his life adventures. He told stories about his schooling, building houses, training to be a pilot, working for Metropolitan in the early days and driving his beloved Porsche across the country; his storytelling will be missed. Lou valued his family above all else preferring to celebrate milestone birthdays by gathering his sons and daughters and their families to travel together. More adventures were had on these trips, especially the ones to Alaska! He will be remembered as a generous, strong and caring person with a sharp mind; a role model for many that knew him. Lou was preceded in death by his parents, Lyman and Helen, and sister Jane Gowans Sheetz. He is survived by his wife Jean and children Linda Listmann (Bob), Bruce (Susan), Julie Henderson (Tiffany), and Richard (Nani), grandchildren Braden, Erin, Matt, Taylor, Alec, and three great grand-children. A private scattering of Lou's ashes will be held on October 21, 2017. Anyone wishing to pay their respects can just head to the ocean; he was, after all, a Navy man. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to: Punahou School, (memo line)Louis '40 and Jean Gowans Endowed Financial Aid Fund. Address: Punahou School, Advancement Office, 1601 Punahou St, Honolulu, HI 96822. Gifts can also be made online at Punahou School (same notation in memo line).
LOUIS L. GOWANS, JR. Louis L. Gowans, Jr., 95, passed away on September 13, 2017 at Straub Hospital. Lou was born on March 16, 1922 in Honolulu, HI to Louis Lyman Gowans, Sr. and Helen Taylor Gowans. Lou grew up in Kaimuki and on Round Top Drive where he helped his father build both of the houses they lived in. He graduated from Punahou School in 1940 and with a handful of classmates attended Cal Tech in Pasadena, CA. His studies there were interrupted by WWII and he followed in his father's footsteps by training to be a pilot in the Navy. The war ended shortly after his training and he was put on reserve duty and then honorably discharged. He resumed his college education at Stanford University graduating with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1946. Lou met his first wife at Cal Tech and together they moved to Honolulu where he was an engineer at Delmonte Cannery. He later married Jean Yaeko Kuniyuki, who was a secretary there, in 1961 and they were happily married for 56 years. Lou eventually left Delmonte and went to work for Magoon Brothers. By 1980 Lou's father was ready to hand over the family business, Metropolitan Properties, Ltd., and Lou, as President, ran the company until 2012 when he turned the reins over to his daughter, Julie. Unable to fully "retire" he became the CEO and stayed involved with the business until the day of his death. Education was very important to Lou's parents and they instilled this in him. During his life he supported many educational scholarships and funds at the schools he attended. He also set up a Daedalian/ROTC scholarship at the University of Hawaii and gave generously to the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation. People who knew Lou were entertained with his stories of his life adventures. He told stories about his schooling, building houses, training to be a pilot, working for Metropolitan in the early days and driving his beloved Porsche across the country; his storytelling will be missed. Lou valued his family above all else preferring to celebrate milestone birthdays by gathering his sons and daughters and their families to travel together. More adventures were had on these trips, especially the ones to Alaska! He will be remembered as a generous, strong and caring person with a sharp mind; a role model for many that knew him. Lou was preceded in death by his parents, Lyman and Helen, and sister Jane Gowans Sheetz. He is survived by his wife Jean and children Linda Listmann (Bob), Bruce (Susan), Julie Henderson (Tiffany), and Richard (Nani), grandchildren Braden, Erin, Matt, Taylor, Alec, and three great grand-children. A private scattering of Lou's ashes will be held on October 21, 2017. Anyone wishing to pay their respects can just head to the ocean; he was, after all, a Navy man. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to: Punahou School, (memo line)Louis '40 and Jean Gowans Endowed Financial Aid Fund. Address: Punahou School, Advancement Office, 1601 Punahou St, Honolulu, HI 96822. Gifts can also be made online at Punahou School (same notation in memo line).
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
