Eric Donaldson Gower

Eric Donaldson Gower, 82, of Annapolis, IL, passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL. He was born on June 22, 1940, in Nyack, NY, the son of Claude Gower & Virginia Donaldson, both of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his stillborn son, Joseph Frederick Gower; his near and dear uncle, Orlin Donaldson; his cousin, Jo Ann Harmon; and his son-in-law, John Bement.

He is survived by his daughters, Elaine Gower-Clark & David Clark (Fishers, IN), Kathy Bement (Decatur, IL), and Melissa Gower & fiancé, Eddie Cargo (Rantoul, IL); his granddaughters, Katelyn Bement and Grace Gower; step-grandchildren, LeAnne Bement, Kyle Clark, Will Clark & Sarah Clark; step-great-grandson, Stephen Bement; and his cousins, Kate Miller (Elgin, IL), Barbara Totten (Jasper, GA), Kenneth Gower (Scottsboro, AL), and Joe Gower (Olney, IL).

Eric spent the first six years of his life living with his mother in New York, NY, before moving in with his beloved Uncle Orlin, who was like a father to him. Eventually, however, at the age of 11, Eric was placed in a children's home called Happy Valley. Here, he picked up the core values and work ethic that would serve him well throughout the rest of his life. After graduating high school, he hitchhiked all the way to Annapolis, IL, the home of his father and the place he would call home for years to come. Before he could settle down, however, Eric heard Uncle Sam calling his name and joined the U.S. Air Force. His eight years in the service included a stint at Monkey Mountain in Da Nang during the Vietnam War, where he was stationed from July of 1966 to July of 1967, specializing in ground radio communications.

On August 5, 1967, he married Betty Banko, and their 23-year union brought his three beloved daughters into the world. They could each speak to their dad's remarkable intelligence by his logical reasoning and methodical efficiency. Eric earned his Master of Plant & Soil Science degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and was a member of the Alpha Zeta Fraternity. He used this knowledge to grow his small farm, where he would live for 50 years. Life on the Gower homestead was comparable to the one featured in "Little House on the Prairie" in that everyone lived simply, worked hard, and did their part to ensure the farm thrived. This included caring for the chickens, cattle and a few sheep that found a home there. So beloved were his cattle that he deeply cared for as he named many of them for their look and personality! They kept this strong farmer going through the years, as did his last big project, rebuilding his grandfather's barn, an undertaking that kept him busy from February to November of 2022.

After a long day of working in the fields with his family, a younger Eric would often jump in the farm's pond to cool off and then relax on the sand-filled family made beach. The pond was also the place where his family would take the time to enjoy the occasional picnic together. As the years went by, his free time was often spent at area dances, where he would two-step, swing, cha-cha, or waltz the night away. He also enjoyed cutting a rug after a dinner with many good friends at the Moose Lodge #1009 in Terre Haute, IN, where he was a longtime member and fan of the band "Ambush". He also enjoyed having dinners with friends at the Oblong V.F.W Post #219, and being a member of the Robinson V.F.W. Post #4549. As he grew older, he increasingly found himself enjoying PBS programs like Downton Abbey, Poldark, and his favorite, All Creatures Great and Small, or any other show with what he called "redeeming value."

It was back in 2001, at the age of 60, that he started reading Our Daily Bread, a Christian publication that drew him near to God. Eric always thought the world would be a better place if people would be like Jesus and do the right thing. "Are you following me?" He spent countless hours repairing and tinkering with equipment that needed attention, refusing to buy anything new so long as he could fix it, and fix it, he would. Simply put, Eric was just about the most thoughtful, competent man one could hope to meet. His analytical nature lent itself well to teaching, and though he taught his family much over the years, the greatest lesson he ever taught was how to live a good and honest life.

A time of visitation will be held from 12:00-2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson. Funeral services will immediately follow and be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. For those unable to attend, a live stream of the service will be available on Goodwine Funeral Homes' Facebook page or at www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/live-stream/live-stream .

Burial will be held in the Gower Cemetery, located behind his pond in rural Annapolis. His family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to an organization near and dear to Eric's heart, the "Oblong Children's Christian Home". Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.