Obituaries

Erik Johnathan Cowen, 68, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Avilla, Indiana surrounded by his family.

Erik was born on May 22, 1957 in San Diego, California to the late Wayne Gerald Cowen and Louise Alice (Reed) Cowen.

Erik was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Louise Cowen and brother, Jim Wayne Cowen.

Left to cherish the memory of Erik is his daughter, Jennifer Cowen; son, E. Jay Cowen, and grandchildren, Mattix Mason, Aiden Maynard, and Jayden Cowen.

Erik was a hardworking man who proudly served his country and loved his family deeply. He enjoyed the simple things in life — walking his dog Hawkeye, playing pool at the local tavern, and sitting around a good fire at night. Along the way, he made many lifelong friends and memories that will never be forgotten.

More than anything, Erik loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. If you knew him, you knew he was old school in the best way — dependable, loyal, and always someone who would have your back when you needed him.

One memory his family will always laugh about was a trip to the casino that somehow turned into an unexpected drive all the way to Holland, Michigan. Caught up talking about life and teasing each other about who was supposed to be paying attention to the road signs, they ended up hours away from where they meant to be. The jokes about who was the worse driver never stopped after that day.

Erik will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Erik will be privately laid to rest at Mission Hills Memorial Cemetery.