Charles R. Rowell

A Memorial Mass for Charles R. Rowell will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the All Saints Catholic Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Father Jay Buhman as Celebrant.

The memorial mass will be recorded and posted to the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Homes Facebook page.

An inurnment will follow at the Fort McPherson National Cemetery, south of Maxwell, Nebraska with military honors provided by the North Platte Honor Guard in conjunction with the Army National Guard Honors Team.

Charles Royce "Charlie" Rowell, 76 years of age, of Loomis, Nebraska, died unexpectedly on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.  Charlie was born on December 19, 1946, in Omaha, Nebraska, the youngest of five children, born to Ralph and Avis (Coonrod) Rowell.  He was raised on a farm and attended District #14 rural school near Waterloo, Nebraska.  He graduated from Elkhorn Public Schools in 1965 and pursued higher education from Iowa Western Community College, earning an A&P License in 1971.

On March 21, 1966, Charlie was inducted into the United States Army in Omaha and served during the Vietnam War as a Chinook helicopter gunner and crew chief from 1967-68.  He was honorably discharged on March 12, 1968, and then served in the Army Reserves until 1972.

On September 28, 1968, Charlie was united in marriage to Kathy Banker in Valley, Nebraska.  The couple made their home in Omaha.

In 1976, they moved to Loomis, where Charlie began working as a mechanic and fuel truck driver for CHS.  The couple was blessed with two children:  Jeff and Jenny.

Charlie enjoyed being in the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, and camping.  His family was most important to him.  He began collecting toy replicas of his childhood farm and later customizing toy tractors and farm equipment.

He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church and the Loomis Volunteer Fire and Rescue.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Darrell Rowell and his wife, Darlene; and three sisters:  Helen Doll and her husband, Robert, Jr.; Carrol Jensen; and Glenna Fischer and her husband, Lyle.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Rowell, of 54 years of Loomis; his son, Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey L. Rowell, Retired and his wife, RyAnne of Omaha; his daughter, Jennifer Hansen and her husband, Kert of Wilcox, Nebraska; four grandchildren:  Alexandra (Hansen) Makovicka and her husband, Alex; Sydnie Voichoskie and her special friend, Ryan Huston; and Kinley and Kolby Hansen; two sisters-in-law:  Patricia Rodgers and her husband, Art of Katy, Texas; and Karen Brostad and her husband, Jay of New Ulm, Texas; one brother-in-law, Michael Banker and his wife, Joanie of New Castle, Washington; along with extended family members.

A Memorial Book Signing will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and a rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Charlie's honor and kindly suggested to the family for later designation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.