Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Don Rowney Obituary
November 15, 1936 - February 19, 2022
Don Karl Rowney, a Professor of History at Bowling Green State University for 47 years, died Saturday, February 19, 2022, in hospice. The son of Roy and Marguerite (Chamberlain) Rowney, Don was born in Kokomo, Indiana, on November 15, 1936. Don graduated from Kokomo High School, St. Meinrad Seminary, and Indiana University, where he received his bachelor's master's and doctorate degrees.
A mainstay of the BGSU history department, Don ushered in the age of computing with new understandings of quantitative history and, later in his career, he founded the Graduate Program in Policy History. He contributed to his field of Russian History through his publications on Russian bureaucracy, through love of teaching, and through co-founding the International Council for Central, East European and Eurasian studies. He retired Emeritus in 2010.
Don's research took him and his family on extended trips to Moscow and France where he developed enduring international friendships and also an interest in sailing, beginning on the Baltic and continuing on the Great Lakes. His lifelong love of music was enriched through the choir at St. Meinrad, through friendship, and through appreciation of Russia's musical heritage. His 33 years of residence in Toledo's Old West End brought him many dear neighbors and friends.
Along with his spouse of 41 years, Susan Carlton Rowney, he is survived by his sons, Kevin (Amber) Rowney and Christopher (Siobhan) Rowney; grandchildren, Christopher, Tate, Caden and Cathal; sister, Sister Mary Louise Rowney; and sister-in-law, Rosemarie Carlton.
Friends and family will be received Sunday, February 27, 2022, from 11-1 p.m. at Witzler-Shank-Walker Funeral Home, 222 E. South Boundary Street, Perrysburg, Ohio (419-874-3133) where funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Don K. Rowney Scholarship Fund, payable to BGSU Foundation, Inc. at the Mileti Alumni Center, BGSU. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Don Rowney
1 Entry
Jon Venner
February 24, 2022
Professor Rowney was a great teacher and scholar...knowledgeable, passionate and generous. I remember not only his Russian / Soviet history classroom experience at BGSU, but also every text he chose for the course and why. Those books are still on my shelves.
As circumstances evolved over the decades, and up to the present crisis, I often think back to that class, and about what his valuable perspective would be. I'm sad to read of his passing.
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 results
Make a Donation
in Don Rowney's name
Memorial Events
for Don Rowney
Funeral services provided by:
Witzler-Shank-Walker Funeral Home - Perrysburg222 E South Boundary St, Perrysburg, OH 43551
How to support Don's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Don Rowney's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
