W. John Rowe

W. John Rowe, aged 92, passed away on March 14, 2019 at his home in Bella Vista, where he was a resident for thirty four years. He moved from Arlington Heights, Ill., to Bella Vista in March of 1985. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and was highly regarded by his entire family and relatives. John was born on May 28, 1926 in Meridean, Wisconsin to Walter J. Rowe and Geneva Peterson Rowe, both deceased. His older sister, Frances, and younger brother, Richard, are also deceased. John is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Bella Vista; daughter Cathy Casey (Joe) of Bixby, Okla., son Thomas Rowe (Jan) of Deerfield, Ill., his sister, Geraldine Barthholf (James) of Monroe, Wis., grandchildren Deborah Stanhope of Bixby, Okla., Bradley Kmita of Tulsa, Okla., Grant Rowe of Coppell, Texas; Clark Rowe of Irving, Texas, and eight great grandchildren. On December 29, 1949 he married Ruth Ann Neuman of Elroy, Wis. They were blessed with two children, Cathy and Thomas, four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. John graduated from Menomonie High School in 1944 and entered the U.S. Navy in June of that year. As part of his several naval assignments, he served on the U.S.S. Crocket, APA 148, for a year and a half in the South Pacific until the end of World War II. In the fall of 1946, he entered the University of Wisconsin–Stout, graduating in 1950 with a teaching degree. In later years, he earned advanced degrees from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill. He spent his career in education — as did his wife, Ruth — as a math teacher, school administrator and retired as principal of Arlington High School in Arlington Heights, Ill. in 1984. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 11 a.m. the Bella Vista Community Church where he was an active member for more than 30 years. The Dr. Anna Teel, his pastor, will be officiating. Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to the Community Church in Bella Vista, Ark., (479) 855-1126, (www.bvcc.net) or to the Cardinal Fund associated with District 214 Education Foundation (847) 718-7699. www.214foundation.org/cardinal-fund. Arrangments by Epting Funeral Home Bella Vista. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.