Richard Lowe (97) of St. Elmo

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Published on November 24 2020 9:23 am

Richard M. Lowe, 97, of St. Elmo, Illinois died at 10:55 a.m., Monday, November 23, 2020 at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Effingham. 

A private family service will be held at Maplewood Cemetery with Dan Laack officiating and military rites by the American Legion Post 420, St. Elmo. Donations in his honor can be made to the Richard M. Lowe Family Scholarship, P.O. Box 82, St. Elmo, IL 62458 or the Cecil C. and Agnes C. Lowe Endowed Scholarship, McKendree University, Office Development, 701 College Road, Lebanon, IL 62254. Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left by clicking here.

Richard Morgan Lowe was born Sunday, October 7, 1923 in Marion County, Foster Township, Illinois to Cecil Charles and Agnes C. (Morgan) Lowe. He married Mary Smith January 14, 1946 and she preceded him in death October 9, 1997. He then married Jean Herndon November 22, 1998 and she preceded him in death November 4, 2007.

He grew up during the Great Depression on a Southern Illinois farm, then spent World War II in the Navy. He served on the destroyer USS Wadsworth, which saw action in several of the most important naval battles in the Pacific theater. Following the war, he returned to Illinois, went to college on the G.I. Bill, and spent a long and productive career teaching ag. and ag business courses both at the high school level and to farmers in the St. Elmo area of southern Illinois. In that capacity, he helped modernize Illinois farming during an era when farm yields were exploding. He was a member of the St. Elmo United Methodist Church, American Legion and Lions Club. Richard participated in the  Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Oral History Project and this can be enjoyed by clicking on the following link; https://www2.illinois.gov/alplm/library/collections/OralHistory/VeteransRemember/worldwarII/Pages/Lowe,-Richard.aspx.

Richard is survived by his sons, Chuck (Beth) Lowe of McGregor, TX, Bob Lowe of St. Elmo and John Lowe of St. Elmo; daughter, Anna Lowe and Michael Saunders of Seattle, WA; stepchildren, Bud and Sheila Himes of St. Elmo; brother, Carrol (Peggy)  Lowe; sisters: Mary Lowe Rogers; Dorris Lowe Young; Clara Lowe Packard; Grandchildren, Leah and Steve Felan, China Spring, TX; Richard and Julie Lowe of St. Elmo, IL; Brenner and Paula Lowe of McGregor, TX; Shannon and Ted Moss of St. Elmo, IL; Morgan and Steve Barrett, Geneva, IL; Shawn and Ashley Lowe of Steamboat Springs, CO; Tish Wurl of Seattle, WA; David and Debra Wurl of Champaign, IL; Michael and Kris Lowe of Fisher IN; step grandchildren Laura and Dan Tetrich of Poulsbo, WA; Alex and Sophie Saunders of Seattle, WA; Mark and Gina Stites of Charlston, SC; Scott and Porsche Himes of Neoga, IL; great grandchildren, Cash and Charlie Felan; Benji Lowe; Kaitlyn and Madison Lowe; Darby, Sydney, Cassidy and Kelly Moss; Bryn and Brooke Barrett; Emma and Henry Wurl; Elena, Julia and Nicholas Lowe; step great grandchildren, River and Indigo Tetrich; Hank and Stella Saunders; James and Laura Lechler; John and Scarlet Stites; step great great grandchild, Briella Lechler;  nieces and nephews, Kathy and Norm Houmes; Jim and Marline Lowe; Debra Sasveld; Dauna and Mark Delashmit; Rick and Susan Rogers; Sheila and Scott Cutlip; David and Karla Rogers; Ken and Bonnie Young; Greg and Janet Young; Kim and Steve Heath; Pam Katayama and John Stephenson; Jan Katayama and Bill Costas; Bart and Patricia Packard; Vicki and Jeffrey Tuma.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Don Lowe, sister: Dorothy Lowe Katayamasisters-in-law, Donna Brown Lowe and Dawn Thomsen Lowe; brothers-in-law, Melvin Rogers; Roy Katayama, and Dick Packard; daughter-in-law, Betty (Schuster) R. Lowe.