Duane O. Rowe

Duane O. Rowe, age 76, died on Saturday, October 9, 2010, at his home in Lancaster.  He was born on July 3, 1934, in Kinross, Iowa, the son of LeRoy and Mamie (Higgins) Rowe.  Duane graduated from high school in 1951, where he excelled in sports.  He graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry from Iowa State University, where he was named Outstanding ROTC Cadet.  Duane was commissioned into the United States Army and was stationed at Ft. Sill, Ft. Lewis, and Ft. Huachuca.  Following his active duty, Duane served in the United States Army Reserve for six years.  On June 12, 1955, Duane was united in marriage to Virginia Ulrich at the First Evangelical Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  Duane was employed as a livestock buyer in Iowa for Rath Packing Company, Iowa Pork, Iowa Beef, and Oscar Mayer.  He later transferred to Wisconsin as an Oscar Mayer district supervisor.  Duane also enjoyed his career as an agricultural loan officer and vice president for Union State Bank and as a loan officer for Federal Land Bank, but his first love was farming.  He farmed for more than 30 years, raising Simmental cattle and exceptional American Quarter Horses. 

Duane was a member and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster. Duane enjoyed watching NASCAR and professional football, especially Brett Favre. He was well-read and well-educated, and could strike up an interesting conversation with everyone he met.  Duane loved children and was never too busy to saddle up a pony or take a wide-eyed youngster on their first tractor ride.  He loved his horses, shooting pool, and playing golf.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia Rowe, Lancaster; children: Steve Rowe, Tucson, AZ; Dee Rowe, Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren: Valerie Rowe and Christine (David) Lee; great-granddaughter, Dominique Martinez; one sister: Betty (Robert) Steen, Davenport, IA; two brothers: Terry (Martha) Rowe, Peoria, IL; and Lynn (Joan) Rowe, Centennial, CO; Sally Metcalf and her family, Lancaster; other relatives and the many friends whose life he enriched!

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. at Martin Funeral home in Lancaster with Pastor Mark Hoehne officiating.  Procession by horse-drawn carriage to Hillside Cemetery will be followed by burial with full military honors.  Family and friends may call on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Lancaster and from 9:00 a.m. until time of services on Wednesday.  In lieu of plants and flowers, a Duane O. Rowe Memorial Fund has been established.