Ernest Robert Rowe

Ernest Robert Rowe, “Ernie”, 83, passed away Tuesday January 31, 2023 at home in his Allentown PA residence.  He was the son of the Late John and Alice Rowe.  He was born  on January 28, 1940 in Brooklyn NY where he was raised with 3 surviving siblings (Fred, Janet and Joyce)  until he joined the Navy, as an aircraft mechanic, in 1958.

He moved around after his military service during his almost 30 years working at AT&T, where as an early adapter to computers, he became a systems engineer maintaining and developing computer technologies related to telecommunications.  With his first wife, Vivian, and their 3 children (also surviving him Dawn Yadlosky, Denise Stake and John Rowe) and his rescued dog “Duchess” they lived in Parsippany, NJ,  E. White Plains NY, Hamilton OH, and for almost 10 years, until his children went off to college, Bridgewater NJ.  During his time in Ohio his love of rural life started as he acquired two horses, two steer and a goat,  When he gave up ranch life for the suburbs of New Jersey he moved his passion for the outdoors to boating, fishing, clamming, crabbing and waterskiing with the family on Long Beach Island.  In 1988 Ernie headed west to Cheyenne WY with his fiancee Jo Hardt, whom he loved dearly, and a rescue dog “Bear” to pursue their love of rural living.  He married Jo in 1989 and they remained together until her passing in 2005.  During their time in Cheyenne they retired and set their sights on an even more rural life in Tie Siding WY. 

In his retirement Ernie kept busy with various hobbies including hunting, tinkering with vehicles, whittling, collecting and repairing guns.  He also worked intermittently for the National Forest Service and for the Tie Siding Volunteer Fire Department, providing fire protection for the Medicine Bow region of Southern Wyoming. Culminating his volunteer work as Chief of the fire department.  He continued to adopt rescue dogs; and Fidget stole his heart during this period.  He prided himself on independence, personally chopping and laying in several cords of wood for each winter for his home in Tie Siding well into his late 70s.  

Heart issues led him to leave high altitude mountain living in Tie Siding for Laramie.  Later, the love of family and being able to visit with his children, grandchildren (Jaron, Brandon, Ayden, and Jaylyn) and his siblings enticed him to leave the rural living behind and head back to the east coast.  His family loved the time they had him nearby and treasured the opportunity to visit, watch football games with him, just chat, and to get the opportunity to see his kidlike smile and glint in his eyes at humorous times.  

He loved his family, the outdoors, his rescue dogs, independence, and was blessed by these in abundance during his long well lived life.  He will be missed.

No flowers please but if you feel inclined to do something in his honor please consider donating in his memory to your local volunteer fire department or plant a tree in his honor.