George T. Rowe passed away January 10th 2023.
George was born November 7th 1933 to Faye Abijah and Marguerite (Schaffer) Rowe in Hastings, Nebraska, the middle of 5 children. The Rowe’s moved to Kansas City shortly after. George attended Southeast High School where he met the love of his life Mary Louise Alexander. At Southeast George excelled in all sports and was an Inter-Scholastic Football All Star in 1951 as both Offensive and Defensive end. He earned a football scholarship to MU and became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Unfortunately he didn’t get to take full advantage of the opportunity due to some never discussed off-the-field mischief. He and Mary Lou married in 1955 and he earned a degree in Education from Central Missouri State.
George had plans to teach and coach. His first student teaching assignment was at his beloved Southeast. It wasn’t the best idea to go back to the scene of the crime, where just a few years earlier his fellow educators were disciplining him. He switched gears and landed a job with American Standard Corp. in the wonderful world of plumbing sales. He and Mary Lou were transferred to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to cover Eastern Iowa. While in Iowa, the Rowe’s added two sons. George grew up without much and had fun spoiling the boys with all the toys he never had. He also loved fishing and hunting so he bought a boat and a place in McGregor, Iowa on the Mississippi River. Many fun times were spent exploring the mighty Mississippi with friends and family. George bought a commercial building on McGregor’s main street which had a dentist’s office on the first floor and two apartments above. George intended to remodel one of the apartments for his parents but, unfortunately, they died within months of each other and that dream never materialized.
In the early 1970s, Gerber Plumbing Fixtures Corp. made George a job offer, which he accepted. His territory grew from part of Iowa, to Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Eastern Missouri. A couple of years later, Gerber converted to Independent Sales Reps and the G.T. Rowe Company was born. At that time the Rowe’s returned to the Kansas City area. When George retired in 2004 the company represented over 20 different companies in the plumbing industry. Both his sons worked for him and Tom ultimately purchased the business.
George was an avid sports fan and had Chiefs and Royals season tickets for many years. George and Mary Lou traveled throughout the years and spent many winters in Florida. They also enjoyed entertaining friends and frolicking with their grandkids at home around their pool.
George is survived by his wife of 68 years Mary Lou, his sons, Brent of Shawnee; Tom and wife Peggy of Leawood and grandchildren, Alexander, Nicholas, and Kelly, along with his brother Paul and several nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents, sisters Eleanor and Shirley, brother Craig, as well has his mother in law and brothers and sisters in laws.
Visitation at 3:00 p.m. and Service at 3:30 p.m. on January 20, 2023 at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, Kansas 66215. The Rowe Family would like to thank the St Luke’s at home hospice nurses and Toni at Kansas City Hospice for their care. In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity of your choosing.