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WILLIAM A. "BILL" ROWAN

WILLIAM A. "BILL" ROWAN obituary

WILLIAM ROWAN Obituary

William A. "Bill" Rowan of Naperville since 2008 William A. "Bill" Rowan, 83, formerly of Maryland for 37 years, died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, at Edward Hospital in Naperville. William was born July 26, 1928 in Chicago. He was the loving husband of Georgina (nee Marchioretto) Rowan, whom he married April 4, 1959; beloved father of Brian G. Rowan of Mandeville, La., Joseph Rowan of Glen Ellyn, Madeline (Greg) Schmid of Naperville and Paula Rowan of Felton, Pa.; adored grandfather of Kimberly Spivey, Dominic, Samuel and Patrick Rowan, and Lucy and Jacqueline Schmid; devoted son of the late William A. and Mary Isabel (nee Dunne) Rowan; dear brother of Miriam (the late Harold) Ward, Richard (Mary) Rowan and the late Patricia (P.J.) Murphy; and fond uncle of many. Bill grew up on Chicago's southeast side and attended St. Francis de Sales High School (class of 1946). He graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign, served in the Army during the Korean War and later received his MBA from the University of Chicago. Bill was a civilian employee of the Army, working as a chemical engineer from 1964 to 1999 at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Aberdeen, Md. An avid student of history, Bill was the son of William A. Rowan, who served as alderman of the Tenth Ward of Chicago from 1927 to 1942, and also as an Illinois Representative to The Seventy-Eighth and Seventy-Ninth U.S. Congresses. He was a member of St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Naperville. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville. Family and friends will meet Monday, Feb. 20, at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 2220 Lisson Road, Naperville for a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Chicago Park District, Rowan Park, c/o Parkways Foundation, Attn: Rowan Park Donation Funds, 541 N. Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL 60611, 773-646-3180. Donations may be directed towards special projects or programming in honor of William A. Rowan. For more information, please call 630-355-0213 or visit www.friedrichjones.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Daily Herald on Feb. 18, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
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5 Entries

MIKE WARD

February 12, 2021

I still miss Uncle Bill and think about him often. I said it once and will say it again - A Great Man!

Kelly Johnson

February 21, 2012

I am so sorry to hear about your dad Madeline. It sounds like he was a wonderful man, father and grandfather. My thoughts and prayers are with you, the girls and your family.

Jim Thavis

February 19, 2012

We were saddened to learn of Cousin Bill's passing. He was an achiever and much accomplished. He will be missed by many. We are out of the country at the moment and will not be able to attend the services. Our best to all.
Jim and Mary Thavis

Alice Sterling

February 18, 2012

It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of a wonderful man, Bill Rowan. He is in every sense of the word a real "gentle-man" and he will be missed by all his family and friends. We send our prayers, love and great sympathy to all of Bill's extended family! George and Alice Sterling

Mike Ward

February 18, 2012

Georgina and all of the Rowan Kids,

Sincere condolences on passing of a great man. Uncle Bill was a man I always loved, admired and looked up to. I regret that I will not be able to attend services. I will make a donation in accordance with the obituary.

Having lost my father several years ago, I know that this is a rough passage. Console yourselves by the fact that Bill led an exemplary life and leaves behind an enduring legacy. He will be missed.

Sincerely,

Mike, Amy, Kevin and Allison Ward
Colorado Springs, Colorado

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