Joseph J. McGowan, Jr., 57, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2023. Joe was born in Milford, CT on March 6, 1965, to the late Joseph J. and Norma J. (Hutchinson) McGowan. He graduated from Newtown High School in 1984 before earning his bachelor’s degree from Charter Oak State College. Joe served as a member of the Army National Guard, retiring as a Captain after 22 years of service. In 2004-2005, Joe was the Company Commander of the HHC 143rd Area Support Group during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Joe was the recipient of several medals including the Army Commendation Medal. He went on to a successful career as a Loss Prevention Manager for Lechmere, Bernie’s, AutoZone, Allied Domecq, and Follett. In 2010, Joe received the Follett Values in Action award for providing support to employees, colleagues, and law enforcement after a tragic event at Wesleyan University.

Along with his wife Jennifer (Johnson) McGowan, Joe is survived by his son Ryan, daughter Reagan, and Boston Terrier, Phineas. He leaves his sisters, Kathleen McGowan and her husband Dan Martin, Ann Thomas and her husband Adam, and brother Michael McGowan and his wife Kelly, as well as nieces and nephews Nathan and Jeremy Marks, Jonas Martin and his wife Tiffany, and Thomas and Sara McGowan. Joe is also survived by his father-in-law Roland Johnson, brother and sister-in-law Michael and Jennifer Win-Johnson, and nieces and nephews Cooper, Gunnar, Maya, and Ava Johnson. Joe was predeceased by his mother-in-law Judy Johnson. Joe also leaves behind close friends Pat Farrell, Ken Godfrey, Rich Colbert, and Bill Petry.

Joe’s funeral services will be held privately. He will be interred with military honors at the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, CT. The Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Joe’s name may be made to Wounded Warrior Project or The Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation and Animal Sanctuary in Sandy Hook, CT. To share a condolence with his family, please visit www.duksa.net.

“The brave never die.”