Warren Roland Rowe

Warren R. Rowe, 94, Urbandale, IA, was born May 23, 1924 in Woodward, Iowa. He died on August 3, 2018 at the VA Hospital. He was preceded in death by Bernice Francis Erickson, wife of 57 years, second wife (2002-2011), Willis Hitchens, Mesa, AZ, parents, Clinton Joseph Rowe and Etta Weber Rowe (Knoll), step-father, Max Knoll, siblings, Marjory, Royal, Norma Jean and Marvel, and two grandsons, Jason Rogers and Scott Ondracek. He married Bernice Erickson, March 9, 1943. They were happily married 57 years. Bernice died, August 4, 2000. Warren is survived by their four daughters, Judy Ondracek (Ronald), Loomis, CA, Linda Wood (Charles), Oakfield, NY, Sue Ellen Hansen (Richard), Des Moines, IA, and Sally Rogers (Steven), Urbandale, IA. Also surviving are sixteen grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren; one great great grandson; and many nieces and nephews. Warren accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, February 1, 1942 and was an active member of the Evangelical Free Church for many years. He served in various leadership roles including church and district councils, Youth For Christ Board, and Sunday School Superintendent. Warren served in the U.S. Army 13th Air Service Group with the rank of Tech Sergeant during WW II. He was stationed primarily in the Pacific Theater as an airline mechanic using the advance training he had received on the Norden Bombsight and automatic piloting. He worked on farms in the Woodward area before the War learning skills and a work ethic that served him in foreman and management positions at A&P, Carr & Moehl Millwork and Bob Erickson Homebuilders. He retired and returned to farming for a few years before moving to Mesa, AZ in 1988. He continued to enjoy woodworking and travel. He returned to Urbandale in 2011 residing at Illahee Hills until his death. Warren’s remains will be interred at 11 AM on Thursday, August 9 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, IA. A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Thursday, August 9 at the Illahee Hills Retirement Community; 8308 Colby Parkway, Urbandale, IA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for research and treatment of Parkinson’s Disease.