Robert E. 'Butch' Rowe

SAXON, Wis. - Robert E. "Butch" Rowe, 83, of Saxon, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 7, 2023.

Robert was born on June 24, 1940, at home in Gurney, Wisconsin. The son of the late Lester and Lucille (Lee) Rowe, he was one of seven kids.

Robert graduated from Saxon High School in 1958, and was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves from 1958 to 1963. He married Sandra Stanlake on Nov. 11, 1959.

Robert had many jobs because of growing up on a dairy and potato farm. He was then a cheese maker at the Belmont Cheese Factory in Saxon. Through the years, he was also a machinist, carpenter, and did masonry and logging. He helped build the Holiday Inn in Hurley and when it opened, he was hired for maintenance. He also did public service jobs; he was Iron County Sheriff for one term and was on the Town of Saxon Board for multiple years. His last working years were for his own company, Bob Rowe and Sons Construction. He finally "retired" from that when he turned 70 years old. As a hobby, he started making maple syrup; which, since then, has become a pretty big family success.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dick, Dave and Jim; and sisters, Doris Ofstad and Janice "Tootie" Rice; mother- and father-in-law, Manfred "Bud" and Loretta Stanlake; and sister-in-law, Lori Lorendo. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; one brother, Dan (Gayle) Rowe; sister-in-law, Alison Juntti; sister-in-law, Martha Rowe; brother-in-law, Darrell Rice; children, Kevin (Jane), Kim, Kurt, Kristi (Tom) Krolow and Kirby (Brancy); along with 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held at the Saxon Community Center on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 1 to 4 p.m.