Van Lee Lowe

Van Lee Lowe, one of nine children of Florence Leona (Sparks) and Robert Lee Lowe, was born on May 31, 1910 in Richville, Missouri. Van Lee grew up there and completed the 8th grade. Following school, Van Lee worked with his parents on the farm. On December 7, 1929, Van Lee and Winifred Nedine Ludders of Dora, Missouri were married at Hardy, Arkansas. They established their home near Dora where they farmed. Their marriage was blessed with three sons, Van Lee Jr., Leonard, Lewis, and a daughter Evelyn. In 1947, the family moved to Oakland, Iowa where Van Lee worked as a clerk and carpenter at Fullerton Lumber Company for 22 years. Following his retirement in 1970, Van Lee worked for the Pottawattamie County Parks Department retiring once again in 1972. Van Lee lived an uncomplicated life, caring for his family as best he knew how and endeavored to befriend many. He always enjoyed working the land and gardening.
Van Lee and Winifred had been married 69 years when Winifred died on April 6, 1998. Van Lee continued to live in his Oakland, Iowa home until February of 2000, when his health forced him to move to the Oakland Manor Nursing Home.
Van Lee died at the Oakland Manor on May 6, 2004 having attained the age of 93 years, 11 months, and 5 days. Van Lee was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Winifred, his sons Van Lee Jr, and Leonard; sisters Juanita Riley, Nancy Lowen, and Susie Knight; brothers Martin, Charlie, Lewis, and Jess; a son-in-law Vernon Longcor and great grandson Daniel.
He is survived by one sister Mayme Hostetter of Parma, Idaho and a daughter Evelyn Longcor of Oakland and a son Lewis Lowe of Greeley, Colorado; ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.