Jeffrey Dana Rowe

Oct. 13, 1946 - Nov. 11, 2015

SOUTH BEND - Jeffrey Dana Rowe, 69, affectionately known as "Jody" to his family and childhood friends, passed away peacefully on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2015 at Hospice House in Roseland.

Jeffrey was born in South Bend, the second of four children to the late Carl Samuel and Emma Jane Rowe.

In August 1971, he married Karen Marrs of South Bend, which ended in divorce in 1981. On Feb. 14, 1986, he then married his soul mate Beverly S. Bowman, who survives along with their son, Aaron T. Rowe of Plymouth. He is also survived by two sisters, Linda D. Regelean of South Bend and Deborah J. Rowe of Mishawaka, an aunt Lee Sturm and her son Chris (Sara) of Florida, and two nieces, Jeney K. Regelean and Sabryna M. Smith, both of South Bend. A sister, Rebecca J Smith preceded him in death in 2013.

Jeff and his family always felt a special bond with and had very fond memories of their Corby Boulevard neighborhood and remained connected to them by attending the Eastside Reunion whenever they could to reminisce and tell stories of back when.

Jeff attended Perley and Jefferson Schools and was a 1964 graduate of John Adams High School where he became a member of the Civil Air Patrol, thus beginning his passion for flying and aviation. On Dec. 6, 1965, Jeff joined the U.S. Army Special Forces Division and proudly served his country in Panama until his honorable discharge in January 1969. Upon his return home, he joined the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department as a patrolman for four years before moving to Marshall County and becoming a member of their Sheriff's Department as both a patrolman and pilot for their Civil Defense helicopter for eight years.

His love for aviation then took him to Bendix Corporation and to Steel Warehouse as pilot of their corporate jets where he finished his flying career. Jeff enjoyed flying his own 1945 Piper Cub airplane from his backyard strip and sharing his love for flying by giving rides to any willing participants. He also enjoyed scuba diving, parachuting, traveling, Scottish Bagpipe music and his two golden retrievers. He was very fluent in Spanish and was attempting to learn others. Jeff was a member of the Baha'i Faith since a child, and he and his three sisters traveled to Panama for the dedication of the first Baha'i House of Worship in Central America in April 1972. He served on the first Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i's of Mishawaka.

A green burial with military honors and the Baha'i Prayer for the Dead took place on Thursday, Nov. 12 at Porter Rae Cemetery in Potato Creek State Park, North Liberty. A Remembrance Gathering will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 at the Baha'i Center, 1608 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend (across from John Adams High School).

The family would like to thank the staff of the South Bend Hospice House for their kind and sensitive care during Jeff's two week stay. Their kindness and compassion toward him and his family was much appreciated in that time of need. The family would like to request that any contributions in Jeff's memory be made to: Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

To send condolences to the family log on to: www.McGannHay.com.

Published in The Pilot News on Nov. 26, 2015