Elston “Ron” Rowell, 96, of Paynesville, died Thursday, April 15, 2021, at his home in Paynesville. A private memorial service for family and close friends will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, at Nordland Lutheran Church in rural Paynesville. The service will be live-streamed on the church’s youtube page, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdRnlegrcYxt9L1touWXXMg Burial will be in the church cemetery. Services are entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home in Paynesville.
Elston Drury Rowell was born on February 20, 1925, in Lynn, Massachusetts, the son of Bernard and Ethel (Drury) Rowell. At the age of 12, his family moved to Connecticut, where he received his nickname, Ron. When Ron was 17, and still in high school he enlisted in the United States Navy. He served his country during World War II, serving in the Aleutian Islands for 22 months before being stationed in San Francisco, CA. It was there that he met his first wife, Irene Stewart.
Ron and Irene were married and moved to Boise, ID, where Ron worked in sales. They were blessed with two sons, Ronald and Steve. In 1970, they moved to Scottsdale, AZ, where Ron became a real estate agent. After his retirement in 1987, they moved to Mesa, AZ where he enjoyed golf and ballroom dancing. After the passing of Irene, he met Evangeline (Lind) Wuertz. They enjoyed a whirlwind courtship and were married. They moved to Vangie’s condo on Green Lake, in Spicer, MN, where they enjoyed summer activities on the lake. The Minnesota winters got long at the condo so the couple decided to buy a motorhome and travel the winter months. They traveled to every state in the US and enjoyed all the beauty of God’s creation. After seven and half years they moved to a senior living community in Paynesville. Ron enjoyed his grandchildren, many friends, playing golf, cards, church functions, American Legion meetings, and dancing on Sunday afternoon's.
Elston “Ron” Rowel died on Thursday, April 15, 2021, at the age of 96. He is survived by his wife, Vangie of Paynesville; son, Steve of Eagle, ID; step-children: Kary (Cathy) Wuertz of Eden Valley, Kim (Mike) McArdle, of Bloomington, and Diane (Ron) Rusca of Walnut Creek, CA; grandchildren: Jennifer Howell, Robert Schaeffer, Doug Rowell, Ashley Rumble, Ryan McArdle, Tommy Wuertz, Jack Rusca and Joey Rusca; many great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Irene; son, Ronald, granddaughter, Stephanie; and sisters, Alma and Emily.
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