Stephen Rowe

 

Stephen Rowe

 

Stephen (Steve) Rowe, 60, of Overland Park, KS passed away peacefully on January 10, 2014, at Villa St. Francis Nursing Home after an 8-year battle with Alzheimer’s.

Steve was born on March 25, 1953 in Waterloo, Iowa. He grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and was around swimming pools at a young age.  He participated in the Swimming Program at the YMCA and continued his love for the sport for his high school and, eventually, college.

Steve is a 1971 graduate of Cedar Falls High School and a 1975 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, where he received a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Steve worked for Happy Joe’s Pizza for four years before starting a 26-year career in industrial pump sales. In 1979 he accepted an inside sales position with Viking Pump in Cedar Falls. A few years later he was promoted to district manager and was relocated to Indianapolis, IN. From there, he transferred to St. Louis, MO, and Milwaukee, WI. 

In 1991 Steve moved on to Bran & Luebbe and Tuthill Pump until accepting a sales position in 1993 with JCI Industries, a Kansas City-area pump distributor. He was employed there for 12 years before the early onset of Alzheimer’s began and he lost his job.

Steve is survived by his wife of 32 years, Loreilyn (Crooks) of Overland Park, Kan.; daughter Andrea (fiancé Jesse Shalley) of Kansas City, MO, and daughter Morgan of Overland Park.

A celebration of Steve’s life was held on Monday, January 13, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Resurrection, Wesley Chapel, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66224. The family requested the color purple be worn in honor of Alzheimer’s.

A random act of kindness would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.

A very special thank-you to Villa St. Francis Nursing Home-Special Care Unit, Catholic Community Hospice, and Village Shalom Day Out Program. These facilities and organizations played an active part in Steve’s care over the past few years.

Donations in Steve's memory can be made payable to "KU Endowment-KU Alzheimer's Disease Center.”  Please send to KU Endowment, c/o Ted Kimble, Mail Stop 3012, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160.

Steve’s wife, Lorei, was a 1975 graduate of North High School. Condolences may be sent to her and her family at 5705 W. 154th St., Overland Park, KS 66223.

(Note: Members of the North High Class of 1975 can be part of a class memorial contribution by sending donations made out to: North High Class of 1975 and sending by Feb. 1 to: Jolene (Juergens) Niehaus, 39341 Hilton Rd., Edgewood, IA 52042.)

Cremation by Heartland Cremation & Burial Society.

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