Jean Marie Rowse, age 96, of Stockbridge, MI, passed away on June 30, 2025 in Howell, MI. She was born in Jackson, MI on July 21, 1928, the daughter of Harry and Frances Bowen. She was the fourth of five children.
Jean graduated from Stockbridge High School in 1945 at 16 years old. Jean was a tremendous speller. She won gold medals in several Spelling B’s, eventually making it to the finals in Howell, winning a dictionary at 10 years of age.
She married Gale Rowse in 1949, and they were married for 61 years. Gale passed away on June 14, 2010.
Family was her whole life. She loved to go to family gatherings and spoil the grandkids. She loved every kind of flower, but her hobby was cultivating African Violets. She had 50 violets at one time, and she was very proud of them.
Jean grew up on Van Syckle Road near Gregory. She moved to her home north of Stockbridge in 1948 and lived in the same house for 77 years. She always had a huge flower garden, and sometimes cars would stop just to admire.
Jean will be greatly missed but had a great long life. Jean is survived by two sons, Lynn (Louanne) Rowse and Terry (Anne) Rowse; five grandchildren, Heather (Ian) Lewis Eichel, Alicia Rowse, Julia (Mike) Offenbacher, Michael (Amber) Rowse, and David (Kristen) Rowse; five great-grandchildren: Nora Lewis, Jason Rowse, Emily Rowse, Gabriel Fillmore-Rowse, and Adrianne Fillmore-Rowse. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Frances Bowen; her husband, Gale Rowse; two brothers, Allen and Edward; and two sisters, Betty and Dorothy.
Visitation will be held on at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home on Monday, July 7, 2025, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Plainfield Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Meals on Wheels or the Plainfield Cemetery Association.
