John Charles Cowin

John Charles Cowin went to his Heavenly Father on November 15, 2022, after a brief illness.

John came into this world in Miller, South Dakota but grew up in Ree Heights, South Dakota and was the only child of Fenton and Grace Cowin. He grew up on the farm and could tell you anything you wanted to know about farm life. He rode to school every day by horseback even during snowstorms and sometimes was the only teenager to arrive and was the teacher for the day.

He loved his life growing up in South Dakota but after graduation he enrolled in the Air Force as an Airman Second class and was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. Here is where John was trained as an airplane mechanic and learned to repair airplanes. About a year later he was stationed at Mather Air Force Base in California, where he continues his training as a mechanic. He learned how to, not only repair, but fly airplanes and enjoyed flying all his life. Moving forward after many years, John ended up in Kerrville, Texas where he was hired as an auto
mechanic for the Peterson Auto Repair Company. A few years later, John ventured out on his own and opened a lawn mower and small engine repair shop in a small Quonset Hut which was located where the current Valero station is now located on Sidney Baker Street. There is where he met Marie Welch and they were later married in 1972. Shortly after that John and Marie opened the Fixit-it Shop on Bandera Highway. They built the business by repairing lawn mowers, small engines, chainsaws, and anything that came in the door. His daughter Caroline was a constant fixture at the shop, and she helped with the business for many years. After Marie died in 2000, John’s heart was broken and a few years later he sold the business.

John is preceded in death by his wife, Marie Welch Cowin; great-grandchild, Katie Dixon; and his parents, Fenton and Grace Cowin

John is survived by his best friend and daughters, Caroline Welch, Lynnette Daves Cooper; sons, Russell (Ann) Daves and Alan (Sandy) Daves; grandchildren, Kyle (Vickie) Cooper, Eric (Dana) Cooper, Meggie (Kevin) Vandeloo, Jacqui (Marc) Issner, Lauri White, Brian Daves, Leslie (Richard) Eastland and Suni Howard; great- grandchildren, CC Eastland, Peggy Eastland, Harper Daves, Logan Daves, Jill Vandeloo, Eric Vandeloo and Jonathan Adam, .
 

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