Howard P. Rowe

Howard P. Rowe was born to Charles L. and Cecile M. (Chambers) Rowe on June 22, 1934 in Nebraska City, Nebraska.  He was the only child born to this union.  He was raised in Cook and Syracuse where he attended elementary school and middle school.  Howard later moved with his family to Tecumseh and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1952.

He was united in marriage to LaVonne Marie Webber on July 25, 1957 at the United Methodist Church in Syracuse, Nebraska.  This union was blessed with two daughters, Michelle and Lisa.

Howard was inducted into the U.S. Army on November 15, 1956 and received his honorable discharge on November 14, 1958.  He served with the Paratrooper 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 

Howard was employed as a lineman for the Eastern Nebraska Public Power District, which later combined with the Omaha Public Power District.  He retired from OPPD after 40 years.  He was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and served on various boards and volunteered on committees over the years.  He also served on the Tecumseh City Council.  His hobbies and interests included building model airplanes, boats and vehicles, fishing and hunting.  He was an avid Husker football and volleyball fan.  Howard especially enjoyed traveling with his family, going to Red Feather Lakes in Colorado or taking ocean liner cruises. Above all, he loved motorcycle trips with his friend Charles Morris. After retirement, Howard enjoyed golfing and going to the Action Center for coffee in the mornings.  Howard was a hard-working, fun-loving, devoted husband, father and grandpa.  He will be remembered for his great sense of humor and quick wit and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. 

He passed away Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at the Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh, Nebraska at the age of 89 years. 

Howard is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, LaVonne of Tecumseh, daughters, Michelle (Jeff) Nixon and Lisa (Gary) Kraus, both of Lincoln, grandchildren, Megan (A.J.) Muller of Omaha, Miranda Goracke of Phoenix, AZ, Lucas (Jamie) Kendle of Lincoln, Claire Nixon of Sweden and Chelsea (Christopher) Swelensky of Lincoln, great-grandchildren, Rose Marie, Amelia, Cosette and Maeve, sisters-in-law, Lois Thomas of Kansas City, MO and Patricia Webber of Grand Rapids, MN, nieces, nephews, and his special cat, Max.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Linda Webber, brothers-in-law Frank Thomas and Lyle Webber and grandson Garson Kraus.  

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, October 5, 2023 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska.  

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m.  Friday, October 6, 2023 at the United Methodist Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska with Pastors Makenna Riungu and Ken Tubbesing officiating.  The service was also livestreamed on the Wherry Mortuary Facebook page for those unable to attend. A link to the livestream is now available at the bottom of Howard's webpage.  

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the Tecumseh Cemetery, Tecumseh, Nebraska with full military honors provided by the Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team and the Tecumseh American Legion and VFW Posts.

Memorials may go to the Johnson County Hospital Foundation or the family’s choice.

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.

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