White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Harold Baker Rowe, Jr., 83 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Friday, February 17, 2012, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo, Iowa, in peace after bravely fighting A.L.S.  He was born on December 9, 1928, in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Harold Baker and Ruth Elizabeth (Kessler) Rowe, Sr.  He graduated from high school in Oak Park and then earned a B.S. Degree in Animal Husbandry at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.  He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.  On May 14, 1955, he and the former Joanne Lois Stoll were married in Oak Park, Illinois.  They farmed near Independence, Iowa, until retiring.  Mr. Rowe was a member of Hope Wesleyan Church in Independence.  Visiting with his family was always important.  Mr. Rowe enjoyed camping and traveling, and visited all 50 states in the process.  He also was a Green Bay Packer and Iowa State Cyclone fan.

Mr. Rowe is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joanne, and 3 sons, Hal (Debbie) Rowe of Spokane, Washington, Ken Rowe of Edina, Minnesota, and David (Trang) Rowe of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  He is also survived by 4 grandchildren, Rachelle, Eric, Madeleine and Graham, and 2 sisters, Lois Petre of Louisville, Colorado, and Nancy Haimbaugh of Sedona, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 20, 2012, at the Hope Wesleyan Church in Independence, Iowa, with Rev. Bob Solon officiating.  Burial will be in Wilson Cemetery in Independence.  Friends may call for visitation from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, February 19th, at the White Funeral Home in Independence.