William Rowe Obituary

William David Rowe, 84, of Arbor Vitae, WI., passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 8, 2025, while in hospice at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California. Bill also affectionately known as Papa, Pops, Popster and Twinkie was born April 4, 1940, at 4:44 a.m. in Racine, Wisconsin. Bill was the son of Thoburn David Rowe and Annie Constance Dean. A name as balanced as his spirit, he carried four letters in both his first and last names.

Bill's adventurous spirit was evident from a young age. He spent summers at St. John's Military Academy, where his parents were camp counselors. There, he developed a love for the outdoors-learning to swim and sail and even sledding down hills on cardboard boxes during rainstorms. Legend has it that he once built a boat from a cement mixing tub and attempted to navigate the Root River in Racine, only to be intercepted by the Coast Guard and rescued by his older brother Dean.

Bill spent his high school years in Santa Maria, California, where he developed a lifelong passion for the ocean and played on the school basketball team. He later returned to Racine, where he married the love of his life, Lillian Ann Arneson, on October 1, 1960. Their devoted marriage of 64 years was blessed with four children: Debra Ann (Michael Roether), Richard Dean, Robert Allen (Jacqueline Masterson), and John Dean (Christine). Bill also leaves behind six grandchildren-Catherine Anne, Richard Michael (Shannon), Erik Arne, Matthew Charles, Jack Vincent, and Nora Grace-as well as two great-grandchildren, Freya Ann and Finley Lea.

A proud veteran, Bill served two years of active duty in the U.S. Army at the Medical Field Service School at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, as well as Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Bill built a successful career as a salesman for Wisconsin Telephone Company, retiring after 28 years of service. His dedication earned him "Salesman of the Year" twice from the Sales and Marketing Executives. Beyond his professional achievements, Bill was very creative. He was always writing or drawing something up-whether planning gatherings with friends, leading adventures as the master tour guide of "Rowe Tours," designing and building a cabin up north, or a new landscaping project like a backyard waterfall, walkways with thousands of bricks, or a pond at their snowbird retreat in Southern California.

Bill found joy in spending time "Up North" at the lake, going for boat rides, playing cards with family and friends, giving "Course Management 101" lessons to his grandkids, and pulling off an occasional practical joke. His warmth and creativity brought people together; he had an extraordinary way of making everyone feel welcome-like family.

Bill's legacy of love, laughter, and hospitality lives on in all who knew him. He will be deeply missed but fondly remembered for the countless ways he enriched the lives of those around him.

A private interment with military honors will be held at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery in Union Grove, Wisconsin, on May 23, 2025. A Celebration of Life gathering for family and friends will follow, event details will be shared through Facebook. In lieu of flowers please sign the guest book and share a memory or photo if you have one.