Former mayor Kowzan dead at 84.

FORT MADISON – Former Fort Madison Mayor Joe Kowzan has died at the age of 84.
According to the obituary that appears in today’s Pen City Current, Kowan died at his home on Saturday.
Kowzan served as Fort Madison’s mayor for five years and a city council member from the 4th Ward for four years in the early 2000s. He also served one term as a Lee County Supervisor from 2005-2006..

Kowzan moved to Fort Madison in 1976 after serving a three-year stint in the U.S. Army and graduating from Southern Illinois University. He worked for Burrows Paper Corp and several other businesses.
His accolades in Fort Madison include ushering in the Ivanhoe Skate Park and new Fort Madison Public Library. He also helped create a revolving loan fund in the city to help start-up businesses.
He served for 16 years on the North Lee County Community Foundation and as president of the Emma Cornelis Homeless shelter for 17 years. He served on the boards of Sheaffer Memorial Golf Course, Lee County Charitable Fund, Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce, FMEDC, SEI Regional Planning Commission and Fort Madison YMCA.
Funeral services are Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at King-Lynk with visitation from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. His full obituary appears inside today’s edition.