Locations
Staffstevemccowen@todaycenter.com
Hi my name is Steve McCowen. My story started on January 30, 1972 in Jackson, Michigan . I am the son of Robert (Sue) McCowen and Nancy (Terry) Willyard. I was born at the old Mercy Hospital , it is now an empty field. The interesting irony of Mercy Hospital , it was the catholic hospital and my family was Methodist. The blessing from the priest must have had heavy influence, because today I am Catholic, as are most of my family members. What power!
My childhood would be classified as typical. I grew up with Midwest values, including all the things you can't do anymore. I remember playing outside with all the neighborhood kids until dark, or until everyone in the neighborhood heard Mrs. Counselino call her kids home. I also remember on summer days riding my bike with the neighbor, Andy Burkhart, to the local party store 3 miles away just to get Jolly Rancher's. Apple and Watermelon are still my favorite. I remember the day when our school bus was being soloud that the driver emptied the bus out along the side of the road and she drove off. And instead of parents being mad at the driver, you got in trouble for not being good. I remember how fun it was growing up with the friends I had back then. Most of the neighborhood kids used to get together after school and played "Kick the Can".
In pre-school I met my lifelong friend Matt Melling. Matt and I formed our friendship by squishing ants on the floor during nap time. Grandma Frankie the pre-school supervisor didn't care much for our sense of humor. But Matt and I met when we were 4 years old and then because of not going to the same school, we lost touch for a while. In the mean while I started playing hockey at the age of 6. I would never be the next Bob Orr but I loved playing hockey every weekend at the Jackson Sports Arena. Some of my coaches were the best influence on my life. My parents did a good job also, but the loud voice of a coach or the gentle pat on the shoulder for giving all your effort meant a lot and went a long way. I remember always hearing my mom in the stands and my dad standing behind the glass behind the goal, yelling encouragement. My favorite coach was Mr. Ransom, he was a great coach. I remember the first day I heard I was going to be on Mr. Ransom's team, because he was feared by opposing teams. Mr. Ransom (I still call him that when I see him) was the City of Jackson Fire Captain and spent his off time coaching hockey. He demanded a lot from you, so I was very scared the first day. But he turned out to be like many people in my life that demanded much, you always gave them what they asked out of you and you tried to give them every inch more. He appreciated your effort and his handshake meant a lot to me as a kid and even today when I see him.
My younger brother Jeff came into the world when I was 8. Because of our age difference we really didn't do a lot. But we did have some great fights over who was going to play with what Hot Wheel car. Jeff is a good brother and now lives in California working for the Jet Propulsion Lab for NASA. He got all the brains. Our parents always took us on great trips. I enjoyed visiting my grandparents in Kalamazoo and then in Arizona once they moved. I also know I visited Walt Disney World more than most kids, and I really appreciated that.
Both Jeff and I were very blessed that our parents did everything to make sure we had a good education. We both graduated from Lumen Christi High School . I graduated in 1990 and it was the greatest time in my childhood life. I am very proud to have went to school there and appreciate now more than then, the sacrifice my parents went through to give that to us. It was in my middle school and high school years that my family moved to Clark Lake . One of my first friends at Clark Lake was re-introducing myself to Matt Melling. He lived at the opposite end of the lake. But everyone that lived on North Shore Drive, heard our three-wheelers zoom by there house. They occasionally made sure we knew they heard us. Growing up on the lake was great and we never had a bad summer. I spent a lot of time with friends on the boat or on Jet Ski's. I never really got into fishing, because I didn't like the sitting around. I may feel different today. But I made a lot of life friends on Clark Lake and also by going to Gaylord to ski. Matt's family owned Sylvan Resort (now Treetops) and it was fun going up there to see my friends up there. My parents always took us up there after Christmas and thru New Years. We also made other visits throughout the year. The phone bill got me in trouble a lot during those times. That waslongbefore theydeveloped phone plans to fit my lifestyle. My family and Matt's did a lot of traveling together to Nashville, Pocono, and Florida to watch NASCAR. Matt's dad owned the #9 Coors Ford driven by Bill Elliott. NASCAR has stayed in my blood. I have season tickets to MIS in Brooklyn and enjoy introducing this tradition to my boys.
After high school I went to Ferris State for 2 years and lived with my friend AJ Fitzpatrick that graduated from Lumen with me. I was really more interested in starting my career in funeral service. So I transferred to Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science which was on the campus of Xavier University . I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in 1993. I am going backward a little, but I worked throughout high school at a funeral home. I enjoyed it enough to pursue it as a career. It was the social side of the funeral home that has always been a huge part of my life. Talking with people at a difficult time was never an issue for me. It makes you feel good helping others.
After college I spent some time in Battle Creek , before moving back to my hometown. I worked with some of the greatest guys in Jackson for 5 years. I still communicate with some of them, albeit not every day or month but maybe a couple times a year. Coming back to Jackson was good for me. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go and I was always drawn back to Jackson . I reconnected with old friends and found new ones. It was one night that Matt and the guys didn't have much to do, so we went to a Eagles Lodge in Brooklyn . They had a band playing that everyone liked, plus some girls were going. It was April 19, 1997 and I met Michelle Tiernan. She had two kids from a previous marriage and we dated for 2 years. Before we got married, we lived together and had our first child on May 19, 1999. Mackenzie's birth was a life changing moment for me. As was all my children. I really never understand how much you could care for someone until the birth of my three children. That isn't meant to insult friendships or my relationship with Michelle. But it just really blows me away how much they mean to me. Until you hold that baby and see yourself in them, it is an emotion that is hard to describe.
Michelle and I married on October 16, 1999 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Jackson . Shortly after our marriage we moved the family to Gaylord. We lived in Gaylord for 3 years. It was a good experience living in Gaylord, for may reasons. I was challenged in life in Gaylord on many levels and I made it. I worked for a great person named Chuck Nelson. Chuck owned the business but didn't run the business. But Chuck taught me things in life that go beyond work. He taught me how to be a good person and he was every bit the classy man that people in the community respected. I made a good friend with Jack Weston, who also worked their. I talk to Jack regularly today. We both left about the same time for similar reasons. But I don't regret those days one bit. I remember them and made them apart of the person I am today.
It was in 2003 that I answered the right call. It was from Joe Buysse and he informed me that the company he was working with was hiring. He knew I was having a tough time in Gaylord. So, I made a call to Todd Angood and started working in Kalamazoo soon after. It is was the first place I ever went to that I didn't look for the exit. I think you come to a place in your life, that you now you finally fit, and this is the case with this move. The Kalamazoo area offerings a lot for business and pleasure.
My kids are all growing up pretty fast and starting school. I have three kids: Mackenzie, Joey, and Stephen. I also have two step-daughters: Madison and Meghan. Stephen goes to pre-school at Chapman Nazarene Church in Vicksburg, Joey and Mackenzie go to Indian Lake Elementary . I hope my kids have started the great memories I did at that age. Of course the world has changed and the rules have changed with time. But I hope my kids can be kids for a while.
My childhood would be classified as typical. I grew up with Midwest values, including all the things you can't do anymore. I remember playing outside with all the neighborhood kids until dark, or until everyone in the neighborhood heard Mrs. Counselino call her kids home. I also remember on summer days riding my bike with the neighbor, Andy Burkhart, to the local party store 3 miles away just to get Jolly Rancher's. Apple and Watermelon are still my favorite. I remember the day when our school bus was being soloud that the driver emptied the bus out along the side of the road and she drove off. And instead of parents being mad at the driver, you got in trouble for not being good. I remember how fun it was growing up with the friends I had back then. Most of the neighborhood kids used to get together after school and played "Kick the Can".
In pre-school I met my lifelong friend Matt Melling. Matt and I formed our friendship by squishing ants on the floor during nap time. Grandma Frankie the pre-school supervisor didn't care much for our sense of humor. But Matt and I met when we were 4 years old and then because of not going to the same school, we lost touch for a while. In the mean while I started playing hockey at the age of 6. I would never be the next Bob Orr but I loved playing hockey every weekend at the Jackson Sports Arena. Some of my coaches were the best influence on my life. My parents did a good job also, but the loud voice of a coach or the gentle pat on the shoulder for giving all your effort meant a lot and went a long way. I remember always hearing my mom in the stands and my dad standing behind the glass behind the goal, yelling encouragement. My favorite coach was Mr. Ransom, he was a great coach. I remember the first day I heard I was going to be on Mr. Ransom's team, because he was feared by opposing teams. Mr. Ransom (I still call him that when I see him) was the City of Jackson Fire Captain and spent his off time coaching hockey. He demanded a lot from you, so I was very scared the first day. But he turned out to be like many people in my life that demanded much, you always gave them what they asked out of you and you tried to give them every inch more. He appreciated your effort and his handshake meant a lot to me as a kid and even today when I see him.
My younger brother Jeff came into the world when I was 8. Because of our age difference we really didn't do a lot. But we did have some great fights over who was going to play with what Hot Wheel car. Jeff is a good brother and now lives in California working for the Jet Propulsion Lab for NASA. He got all the brains. Our parents always took us on great trips. I enjoyed visiting my grandparents in Kalamazoo and then in Arizona once they moved. I also know I visited Walt Disney World more than most kids, and I really appreciated that.
Both Jeff and I were very blessed that our parents did everything to make sure we had a good education. We both graduated from Lumen Christi High School . I graduated in 1990 and it was the greatest time in my childhood life. I am very proud to have went to school there and appreciate now more than then, the sacrifice my parents went through to give that to us. It was in my middle school and high school years that my family moved to Clark Lake . One of my first friends at Clark Lake was re-introducing myself to Matt Melling. He lived at the opposite end of the lake. But everyone that lived on North Shore Drive, heard our three-wheelers zoom by there house. They occasionally made sure we knew they heard us. Growing up on the lake was great and we never had a bad summer. I spent a lot of time with friends on the boat or on Jet Ski's. I never really got into fishing, because I didn't like the sitting around. I may feel different today. But I made a lot of life friends on Clark Lake and also by going to Gaylord to ski. Matt's family owned Sylvan Resort (now Treetops) and it was fun going up there to see my friends up there. My parents always took us up there after Christmas and thru New Years. We also made other visits throughout the year. The phone bill got me in trouble a lot during those times. That waslongbefore theydeveloped phone plans to fit my lifestyle. My family and Matt's did a lot of traveling together to Nashville, Pocono, and Florida to watch NASCAR. Matt's dad owned the #9 Coors Ford driven by Bill Elliott. NASCAR has stayed in my blood. I have season tickets to MIS in Brooklyn and enjoy introducing this tradition to my boys.
After high school I went to Ferris State for 2 years and lived with my friend AJ Fitzpatrick that graduated from Lumen with me. I was really more interested in starting my career in funeral service. So I transferred to Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science which was on the campus of Xavier University . I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in 1993. I am going backward a little, but I worked throughout high school at a funeral home. I enjoyed it enough to pursue it as a career. It was the social side of the funeral home that has always been a huge part of my life. Talking with people at a difficult time was never an issue for me. It makes you feel good helping others.
After college I spent some time in Battle Creek , before moving back to my hometown. I worked with some of the greatest guys in Jackson for 5 years. I still communicate with some of them, albeit not every day or month but maybe a couple times a year. Coming back to Jackson was good for me. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go and I was always drawn back to Jackson . I reconnected with old friends and found new ones. It was one night that Matt and the guys didn't have much to do, so we went to a Eagles Lodge in Brooklyn . They had a band playing that everyone liked, plus some girls were going. It was April 19, 1997 and I met Michelle Tiernan. She had two kids from a previous marriage and we dated for 2 years. Before we got married, we lived together and had our first child on May 19, 1999. Mackenzie's birth was a life changing moment for me. As was all my children. I really never understand how much you could care for someone until the birth of my three children. That isn't meant to insult friendships or my relationship with Michelle. But it just really blows me away how much they mean to me. Until you hold that baby and see yourself in them, it is an emotion that is hard to describe.
Michelle and I married on October 16, 1999 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Jackson . Shortly after our marriage we moved the family to Gaylord. We lived in Gaylord for 3 years. It was a good experience living in Gaylord, for may reasons. I was challenged in life in Gaylord on many levels and I made it. I worked for a great person named Chuck Nelson. Chuck owned the business but didn't run the business. But Chuck taught me things in life that go beyond work. He taught me how to be a good person and he was every bit the classy man that people in the community respected. I made a good friend with Jack Weston, who also worked their. I talk to Jack regularly today. We both left about the same time for similar reasons. But I don't regret those days one bit. I remember them and made them apart of the person I am today.
It was in 2003 that I answered the right call. It was from Joe Buysse and he informed me that the company he was working with was hiring. He knew I was having a tough time in Gaylord. So, I made a call to Todd Angood and started working in Kalamazoo soon after. It is was the first place I ever went to that I didn't look for the exit. I think you come to a place in your life, that you now you finally fit, and this is the case with this move. The Kalamazoo area offerings a lot for business and pleasure.
My kids are all growing up pretty fast and starting school. I have three kids: Mackenzie, Joey, and Stephen. I also have two step-daughters: Madison and Meghan. Stephen goes to pre-school at Chapman Nazarene Church in Vicksburg, Joey and Mackenzie go to Indian Lake Elementary . I hope my kids have started the great memories I did at that age. Of course the world has changed and the rules have changed with time. But I hope my kids can be kids for a while.
