LANSING, Mich. — Elaine VanAken Cowen born on September 18th, 1920 in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, is the oldest of 7 children. Elaine went off to college at Michigan State University at just 16 years old. She left farm life to start her very impressive career & journey into adulthood. Elaine obtained her Masters Degree at the University of Michigan in Mathematics. From there she taught at a few different colleges, one of which was MIT. While there she met the love of her life Jerry Cowen & they eventually setted back in Michigan where she taught mathematics & statistics at Okemos High School for 25 plus years. She retired at the age of 76 years old.
Her late husband Jerry who passed away in 1999 of bone cancer was a very talented physicist who worked abroad in France and the Netherlands. He worked in aerospace, taught at Harvard & lastly at Michigan State University. There are now two endowed chairs in his name at MSU. Jerry and Elaine loved to travel the world together a few of their favorite places were Japan, Africa, Italy, Alaska, Europe and lastly Higgins Lake, where they own a lake house.
They created 5 very talented children that went on to be very successful. Cheryl their oldest child is Elaine's caretaker. Randy works at Goldman Saks, Thom is an Architect and artist, Neil is a pharmaceutical developer and a bio tech ceo, and Eleanor the youngest of their children is a business owner, real estate agent and primary caretaker. From their children they have 9 grand children and 11 great grand children.
Elaine attributes her health to the fact that she never stopped moving, working or learning. She was the treasurer at The Meridian Historical Village in Okemos, for 20 plus years, stopping just a year or two ago. She is an avid reader, loves to eat farm to table, loves to work in her garden, always cooks from scratch at home, has a glass of wine every evening with dinner, takes a nap every afternoon and only eats when she's hungry.
She has experienced so much in her 100 years of life. And has touched so many people's lives with her wisdom. We are all so grateful for her, a pillar of strength in her community.
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