Dr. Clair D. Rowe

Dr. Clair D. Rowe of Cedar Falls, Iowa, our wonderful father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed away on June 18, 2024. Clair was born Oct. 31, 1924 in rural Troy Mills, IA to Charles and Ida (Schneider) Rowe. After graduating from Troy Mills High School in 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps and served from Dec. 1943 to Oct. 1945. He was a tail-gunner on a B-24, flying 33 missions. He received the Purple Heart, Air Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters, French Legion of D’ Honneur, and European Theatre Ribbon with 4 battle stars after being wounded during his last mission in Europe. Following his return to the states, Clair attended Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI), obtaining his B.A. in 1951 and his M.A. in 1954. He completed his PhD in 1967 at University of Iowa. Clair taught business classes and coached baseball & basketball at Dunkerton and Algona. It was while teaching that he met and fell in love with fellow teacher Florine Erger. They were married June 30, 1956 in Cedar Rapids IA. The two moved to Muncie IN in 1957 where Clair took a position at Ball State University. He served as a professor of marketing, department chair, and later as acting Dean. In 1971 he moved his family to Grand Forks ND where he was Dean of the College of Business at the University of ND for 15 years. He served on many boards, chaired the United Way and was President of the Chamber of Commerce in Grand Forks. He was a member of Elks, Rotary and Toastmasters clubs. In 1986 he and Florine moved to Cedar Falls, IA – intending to teach at UNI, but he was soon recruited to serve as acting Chair of the Depts. of Accounting, Marketing & Finance, and finally as Acting Dean of the College of Business before retiring in 1991. Clair and Florine vacationed in Carpinteria, CA in Dec. of 1993 to spend time near their children and grandchildren. They loved the community so much they returned every winter for the next 25 years – hosting many an Iowan visitor longing to escape the snow and cold! Clair was a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow. He was on the Oster Regent Theatre and Applaud boards for many years. He was a member of Disabled American Veterans and was an active volunteer in the community. Clair loved to fish, golf and take road trips all across the nation. He was a great story teller and filled his conversations with funny puns. He will always be remembered for his kind heart, generosity of time and talent, and wonderful sense of humor. Dr. Rowe is survived by his son Paul & wife Lynelle of Irvine CA; daughter Patricia McFarland & husband Loren of Santa Barbara, CA; daughter Janet & husband Dan Rhodes of Greenville, WI; grandchildren Shannon Sykes (Alex), Patrick (Lisa), & Keegan Rowe; Zachary (Wendy) & Nicholas McFarland; Tessa and Noah Rhodes; great grandchildren Henley, Ian & Declan Sykes; Emmalyn, Lillian and Caleb Rowe; his sister-in-law Ann Rowe, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by Florine, his wife of 65 years, his parents, brothers and sister in-laws Walter (Louise), Leland (Edna), Maynard (Arlene), Donald and Kenneth; also brother in-laws and sister in-laws Rita (Donald) Erusha, Bob (Mary) Erger, Kenneth (Ginger) Erger. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Cedar Falls, IA on August 16, 2024. Burial will be at St. John’s Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, IA. Memorials may be sent to: Western Homes Foundation or Clair & Florine Rowe Marketing Scholarship at UNI.

Dr. Clair D. Rowe

October 31, 1924 - June 18, 2024