David Mowery

David Mowery passed away on May 27th 2023 in Cape Coral FL at the age of 71. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Robyn, their son Stuart and his wife Kellie (Hawkins) and their children Toni, Mason and Zoe who reside in Sidney, NE. Toni lives in Texas with her husband Wesley Swick and their two children Carley and Reed. Their second child Sarah married Gary Rothenberg. They reside in Cape Coral, FL with their two children Van and Max.

Dave was born September 6th, 1951 to Clyde and Dorothy Mowery in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a blonde haired, blue eyed, dimpled little darling who was born with a happy, jovial and loving personality that stayed with him all his life.

Dave had two half brothers, Thomas Lynn and Gerald Lee Fischer. Dave's parents and brother Tom predeceased him.

Dave married Robyn (Givens) Burgeson on June 1st, 1979. He told her that all he could promise is that it would never be boring. Dave, Robyn and their son Stuart started their lives together in a suburb of Rochester, NY, where Dave went to work for Champion Products as their New Product Development Associate. Although Rochester was fun, new and exciting, it was not the midwest that they both missed. Subsequently, they moved to Sidney, NE where he worked for Safe Play Tuff-Wear as National Sales Manager and they were much closer to their families. This is where their second child Sarah Nicole was born.

Safe Play Tuff-Wear manufactured aprons, boxing rings and gloves and Dave traveled across the United States promoting and selling their equipment. During this time, he contracted with Sylvester Stallone to wear Tuff-Wear boxing gloves in one of his Rocky movies. He and Robyn were invited to Las Vegas to attend a Rocky movie reception with many Hollywood stars in attendance and Frank Stallone entertaining the crowd on the piano. Robyn later told Dave that it had definitely not been boring as he had promised!

Dave then started his own manufacturing company in Sidney, NE, which he called USAprons. He purchased a building and equipment and hired individuals who constructed the aprons and many other related pieces of uniform apparel which sometimes contained embroidery. His son Stuart became an integral part of the company and performed many different tasks including screen printing, cutting dozens of aprons at a time, sales, accounts receivable and doing most of the trade show traveling in later years. USAprons also manufactured dog beds and decoy bags for Cabela's. They became so busy that he opened a satellite plant in Ogallala and bought another building to house the massive inventory his employees were now making. Due to his nation wide distribution, he and Robyn were able to travel to many different destinations and make friends almost everywhere they went.

Golf became a big love in Dave's life. He made many lifelong friends golfing and rabble rousing with his buddies at the Sidney Country Club where he and Robyn would enjoy dining and whenever possible, dancing to the Cal Cutright band.

In retirement, Dave and Robyn moved to Florida where the weather was inviting and their daughter and family resided. In the summers they would go back to Robyn's beloved childhood retreat at Johnson Lake, NE, closer to Sidney, NE, and where their son and his family could join them on weekends and vacations.

A little known fact was Dave's generosity. He helped numerous employees, WNCC, charities as well as local and city events.

As time marched on, Dave started having health issues that slowed him down considerably. Near the end of his life, he spent a few days in the hospital which was unacceptable to him. Upon demand, he went home to spend the rest of his days on the family lanai in FL. With the aid of Robyn, his daughter Sarah and hospice, he finished life in his nonconformist fashion. He loved watching the sun rise and set, the rain clouds move in, the beautiful Florida foliage and hearing the birds chirp and watching them fly overhead and perch on the power lines in precision.

He died at home in peace with Robyn and Sarah by his side.

If donations in Dave's honor are desired, he would like to help Hope Hospice, 9470 Healthpark Circle, Ft. Myers, FL 33908 or St. Jude's, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

There will be a graveside service for Dave at 10:00 am July 15, at Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Nautical Rose at Johnson Lake. Business Casual attire.