Norman Joel Rowan

Norman Joel Rowan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed from this mortal life on Thursday, July 19th, 2018 at the home of his granddaughter Melanie Dean, in Franklin Kentucky. He was just 9 days short of his 90th birthday. Thank you, Melanie, for the love and care you gave him during the last year of his life.

He was born on July 28th, 1928 in Baker, Oregon. The oldest child of Virgil Norman and Lucy Draper Rowan and the older brother to Virgil Ray Rowan. He and his brother were raised in various areas of Eastern Oregon and he graduated from Baker High School in 1947. He began his college career at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, where he attended until he enlisted in the USAF during the Korean War Conflict. His colorblindness ended his hope of being a pilot and instead he was assigned to the Air Force Security Service, stationed in Tokyo. One Sunday at church, he eyed a cute, brown haired girl from Ogden, Utah. Later that day, he spied her walking around the moat of the Imperial Palace with a Navy man. She said her feet hurt and Norm hailed a taxi, opened the door for her and slipped in beside her; leaving the Navy man on the street. That brown-haired girl was Dolores Erickson, a 1st Lieutenant and nurse in the Army Nurse Corp. They dated and married in Tokyo on February 6, 1953-three times in one day! They were married first by the US Embassy, then by the Japanese Embassy, followed by a Church wedding and reception. After returning from Japan, they were sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS temple.

He continued his education at Brigham Young University and upon graduation moved his family to Corvallis, Oregon where he earned his Master’s Degree at OSU in 1961. After graduation the family moved-sight unseen-to Barstow, California where Norman taught at Barstow High School while waiting for the soon to be Barstow Community College to open. He continued teaching until 2012 when his health would no longer allow him to continue. During his teaching career, he did Post Graduate work in Physics and Science during summer school at Texas A&M, BYU, University of Kansas and UC Riverside.

He always enjoyed repairing things and wanted his sons to learn how to work on cars. They worked together in the family garage until the business grew too large; so, they built a home and a shop on the corner of Agate and Lenwood Road. That was the beginning of Rowan’s Auto Diesel Electric which they operated as a family business until 1998.

Norman was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many callings. He and Dolores served a mission for their church in Spokane, Washington from 1991-1992.

He is survived by his wife Dolores, and his five children, Jerald (Shannon), Pocatello Idaho, Merilynn, Memphis Tennessee, Stephen (Cindy), Ione, California, Joelyn (John) Wells, Draper, Utah and Mark (Maria), Lenwood, California, 20 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren with 3 on the way. His greatest joy was spoiling his grandchildren and great grandchildren, always making sure that he took them for ice cream cones just prior to dinner! He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ray, and great grandson Emmet Neilans.

The family would like to thank those who so lovingly helped in his care, especially the US Veterans Association and the kind nurses and aides from Hospice of Southern Kentucky. His nurse, Nickie, and his aides Lisa, Alison and Greg. Also special thanks to Kim from Home Instead and Ron and Cindy Wade and family.

Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 2571 Barstow Rd. on Saturday, July 28th at 11:00 AM with a viewing from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM under the direction of Mead Mortuary. Graveside services and burial will follow at the Utah Veterans Cemetery in Bluffdale, UT on Tuesday, July 31st at 10:00 AM.

“…Verify I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40.