Spring Grove, Illinois Community Mourns Legendary Waukegan West High School Multi-Sport Coach Richard “Rick” Mowen Jr., Survived by Wife Barbara and Family

January 5, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on January 5, 2026

Springs Grove, Illinois, and Des Moines, Iowa, communities are mourning the death of beloved longtime coach and former athlete, Richard E. ‘Rick’ Mowen Jr.

Richard ‘Rick’ Mowen Jr passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2026, in Spring Grove, Illinois, at the age of 8,5 leaving his family and loved ones devastated.

Born on August 7, 1940, in Des Moines, Iowa, to parents Richard and Bertha (Bunten) Mowen, Richard Mowen Jr. was a cherished member of the Illinois and Iowa sports community and touched the lives of many with his kind and cheerful nature.

He began his athletic journey at Dundee High School, where he and his brother were exceptional players for the Cardunals, a mixture of the four towns that represented the school.

Rick further continued his athletic career at the University of Iowa, where he excelled in both baseball and football and led his teams in several victories throughout his tenure.

In addition to being a great athlete, Rick Mowen Jr also touched the lives of several young athletes with his decades-long coaching journey.

Also Read: Former Bulls Star, Derrick Rose and Ex-Girlfriend Mieka Reese Unite on Child Support Through Co-Parenting While Raising Son Derrick Jr. ‘PJ’ Rose to Become an Exceptional Athlete

The late Richard Mowen Jr Served As a Multi-Sports Coach for 47 Years

After graduating from the University of Iowa in 1963, the late Rick, aka Coach Mowen, began his coaching career in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and went on to win the hearts of many with his 47-year remarkable coaching career.

He continued his coaching journey at Waukegan West High School, the College of Lake County, North Park, and Carthage College.

Throughout his tenure, Rick led his team to several victories. He led the 1983 Waukegan West Raiders to an Illinois State Baseball Championship, as well as led a Division III football team to a national championship quarterfinal appearance.

Furthermore, Rick led his teams to numerous conference, regional, and sectional titles and impacted the lives of five generations of student-athletes.

Rick coached numerous players who went on to become professional athletes.

For his remarkable coaching journey and contribution to the Illinois sports community, Rick was inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

Beyond his coaching career, Rick was a Outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and playing golf.

Richard Mowen’s contribution to the sports community and his kind nature will always be remembered.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara ‘Bobbe’ Mowen, his children, Randall J. Mowen, Julie (Calvin) Knutsen, his grandchildren, Lucas, Evan, Sophia, Cole, Reece, Rylee, Kaycie, Randall, Kaeden, his loving brother and sister, James D. Mowen and Elle K. Fiene, and the entire family.

A memorial service will be planned in the Spring of 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chain of Lakes Community Bible Church at http://chainoflakescommunity.church/give to honor Rick’s legacy.

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Suruchi is a business management student with a strong passion for writing, particularly when it comes to sports. She loves creating articles and blogs that explore various aspects of the sports world. With a curious mind and a love for both academics and creativity, she constantly seeks to expand her knowledge and share her insights through her writing.

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