C.B. Rowe, 1928-2009

Longtime summer resident C.B. Rowe collapsed and died in his Lake Havasu City, Ariz. kitchen April 19. He was 80.

Resident Barb Blood said Rowe and wife Charlotte were on their way back for another summer in Haines, planning to stay at their regular space in the Port Chilkoot Camper Park. “The boat was in the yard on the trailer, the RV was packed and ready to go,” she said.

Rowe attended the Port Chilkoot Bible Church with the Bloods and Barb said CB was like her children’s third grandfather. He had been dividing his time between Haines and Lake Havasu City for 20 years. He and Charlotte kept a container garden at their regular camping space near Mountain View Motel.

Rowe was friendly and outgoing and followed NASCAR. He was an avid fisherman who liked all things nautical and spent as much time in the boat harbor as he did trolling for salmon or jigging for halibut.

Friend John Nowack met Rowe on the docks and traveled with him to Hoonah where they fished for halibut many times. He said Rowe was a good seaman, who loved fishing. “He always said he wanted to die on his boat.”

Rowe was born June 27, 1928 to Viola (Jett) and Harold Rowe in Elmhurst, Ill. He served in the Marine Corps 24 years. He was active at the Lake Havasu City senior center and VFW and was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church. He was buried with military honors in Lake Havasu City.

He is survived by sons Harold, John, and Mickey; daughters Barbara Balcome and Sharon Kahn; three stepchildren, Donald Chamberlain, Cathy Atkinson and Brenda Ossweijer; two brothers; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and by former wife Bertha Rowe, by daughter Karen and son Michael, as well as by a brother and two sisters. Charlotte Rowe said donations in her husband’s name can be made to HARK or Hospice of Haines.