Jerry Cowan, 80, Valley Falls, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, at his home.

He was born April 13, 1935, at St. Louis, MO, the son of Ira Lee and Verville Cook Cowan.

Jerry joined the US Marine Corp and had served in Korea. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local Union No. 83 in Kansas City, MO, and Iron Workers Local Union 10 in Kansas City, MO, and Iron Workers Local Union 21 in Omaha, NE. He had lived in Oklahoma and Texas prior to moving to Valley Falls in 2001. He had been a cook at several local restaurants. Jerry was a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

He was a member of St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council 6671, both in Valley Falls, Meriden Memorial Post 10815, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and American Legion Bicentennial Post 225 at Ozawkie.

He married Phyllis Sieve May 1, 2004, at Valley Falls. She survives.

Other survivors include his son, Jerry Lee (Stacey) Cowan, Meriden; his daughter, Ruth Ann Bastian, Topeka; five step-sons and five step-daughters; a brother, Paul Cowan, Denton, TX; 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Valley Falls. Burial will follow at the parish cemetery with military honors by Grahem-Herbers Post 3084 Veterans of Foreign Wars. A Rosary followed by a visitation will be at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Delaware Township Library or to Grahem-Herbers Post 3084 VFW, and sent c/o Mercer Funeral Home, PO Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088.