Birth date: Aug 21, 1929 Death date: Dec 26, 2016
Robert Alfred Rowen, 87, died December 26, 2016 in Provo, UT. Graveside services will be 3:00 pm, Friday, December 30, 2016 at the Provo City Cemetery, 610 South State Street, Provo, Utah. Read Obituary
Our talkative, humorous, helpful and talented father, husband, brother, and “Uncle Bob,” Robert Alfred Rowen, 87, passed away quietly at the Courtyard at Jamestown Assisted Living Center, Provo, UT with his wife of 36 years, Karen, by his side. Born August 21, 1929 in Los Angeles, Bob spent the majority of his life living in the Los Angeles Basin. He graduated from Los Angeles City College in 1950. He was a talented musician as well as an avid sportsman who enjoyed bowling, camping, hiking and fishing. He was also a very prolific photographer. He served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954, attaining the rank of Sargent and being recognized with Good Conduct and National Defense Service medals. The majority of his professional career was spent as a purchasing agent for Carnation Company in Los Angeles, California.
After graduating from Los Angeles City College in the spring of 1950, he married Florence Haisch later that year, on December 30. They were blessed with one daughter, Dayna. Although they were later divorced, they remained close friends until her death on January 24, 1988.
While working at Carnation Company, he was introduced to Karen Earl Hansen. That relationship grew and on November 15, 1985, they were married in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
After retiring from Carnation, Bob kept busy as a handyman. He was very talented at diagnosing problems and fixing them. He was hired by many apartment complexes to prepare vacated apartments for new move-ins. At the time of his death, he was recognized as a life-long member of the National Handyman Association. Throughout this time and following his “real” retirement, he and Karen spent many years traveling and enjoying their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He leaves behind his wife, Karen, Provo, UT; his sister Dolores Rowen, Boise, ID, and her children Michelle Ross (Chris) and Melanie Rowen; his daughter, Dayna Smith (Ed), Dayton, OH, her two children Dena, Jon; and step-children, Thom Roylance (Diane), Lindon, Utah, Bron Roylance (Kari), Sundance, Utah and Rosanne Lovato (Dwight), Boulder, Colorado plus 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He will be buried in the Provo Cemetery on Friday, December 30, 2016 with military honors.
Bob’s extended family wishes to thank the staff at Jamestown for their kindness and assistance with Bob and Karen. The wonderful service of hospice staff at Home WoRx, albeit brief, was instrumental in providing Bob the comfort needed during his last few days.
