Obituary: John W Rowley, 74, The Dalles
John W Rowley
John W Rowley left us on Friday March 14, 2025. John will be sorely missed by his wife Victoria, his siblings, and nieces and nephews. John was a friend to many and would be the first person to call if you needed a hand!
John was the 4th child born to Vincent and Sophie Rowley on February 10th, 1951. Upon finding his birth certificate in his 70’s, it was discovered that John’s birth date was actually February 11, 1951, all those early birthday celebrations, who knew.
Like all children raised in a small town in the 1950’s, John experienced a free-range childhood. He and the rest of his siblings were allowed to roam at will but were required to return home for meals and when the streetlights came on. This allowed for many diverse experiences. John took full advantage of these opportunities: jumping off bridges and piers into the Columbia River, racing motorcycles though the desert, Pheasant and Duck hunting in the “blocks,” fishing in the many rivers, lakes and ponds. This untethered freedom also landed John in a few scrapes with the law: John shot a Seattle hunter’s Irish Setter on Denise Hoover’s farm, he was caught with his decoys in the McNary game refuge, he was also caught shooting after dusk, again on the Hoover farm, and an extensive list of shenanigans that weren’t a matter of public record.
John started his education at Saint Patrick’s elementary school. It was recommended by the parish, around the 5th grade, that the Rowley boys would be better suited to the public school system. Although John didn’t flourish in the traditional sense of the academic system, he was an active student and excelled at “school.”
One of John’s educational coups was his election as Senior Class President. He received more votes than there were students, but his victory stuck. His victory didn’t make the school administration very happy, nor did John for that matter. John was straddled with an additional workload and unprecedented responsibilities; nevertheless, John fulfilled his tenure and graduated from Pasco Senior high school in 1970.
John delivered papers as a youth and then, like many of us in a small farm town, John started his employment career by changing sprinklers, bucking hay, and working on wheat combines. John broke out of the farm work with a job as a box boy at Sigman’s groceries then progressed into the produce department and a proud member of the Retail Clerks Union.
Coming of age during the late 60’s and early 70’s was a mix of change, protest, the counterculture, and experimentation with drugs. John took full advantage of this chaotic era. He grew his hair out, wore bell bottoms, turned the music up and turned on… you can fill in the blanks.
John grew restless and moved to The Dalles, Oregon in the early 1970’s to start a new chapter in his life. His first job in The Dalles was as at a local watering hole, Jiggers, where John made numerous friends and countless contacts in The Dalles community. John grew restless at serving drinks and doling out advice, so he moved to the retail sector with a sales job with Mauser Lumber Company, which stretched into a 32-year career. John became immersed in the building industry for The Dalles and the surrounding Columbia Gorge area. He not only sold lumber and building materials he also mixed paint, found you the screw that you so desperately needed, all with a cheerful smile, but he was also the first person at work; he made the coffee in the morning and took out the trash…unsolicited, because john said no job was beneath him. John was a friend to all and a helper to anyone who asked.
John met his soul mate in Victoria, and they married on October 11, 1993. They would spend the next 32 years in The Dalles. Victoria spent her years with John pursuing their collective interests and traveling the Northwest together.
For many years John’s passion was cars. He collected numerous cars and trucks over the years and stored them in Duffer, OR where he owned property. John’s specialty was hot rods. He customized several 38 Chevy Coups along the way, which was John’s happy place. He drove his Rod’s in local parades up and down the Gorge and was often seen driving around The Dalles in his beloved cars.
John continued his childhood love of fishing in The Dalles and spent innumerable days on the Columbia River in pursuit of Salmon and the elusive pre-historic White Sturgeon. John also returned to Pasco often to fish with his high school buddies.
John left behind the love of his life Victoria, a brother Vincent, a sister Frances, not to mention a gaggle of nieces’ and nephew’s. We’ll all miss him dearly!
A memorial of John’s life will take place on April,19 @ 1pm, at Mayer State Park, near the boat ramp, just west of Rowena and The Dalles, OR (Interstate 84, Exit 76). Please contact Vince Rowley for details @ 206.730.2132.
