Remembering Kenneth "Ken" Rowe: Great and Wonderful

Kenneth "Ken" Rowe, a man whose positivity was truly infectious—just ask, he'd tell you life was "GREAT & WONDERFUL"—passed away on Oct 25th, leaving behind a legacy of love, dedication, and service.

Born in Butte, Montana, Ken was the fourth of five boys in his immediate family. The original five brothers, Bill, Phil, John, Ken, and Tom, were later joined by Bob and Mary Rowe, completing the "Willam Rowe" family legacy in Oregon. Ken and his brothers Phil, John, and Tom moved to Utah with the mother Maurine Jacobs, where he graduated from Provo High School in 1961.

Ken proudly served eight years in the National Guard. He dedicated his professional life to the Coca-Cola bottling company, retiring after an impressive 44 years. In a moment of great honor in 2002, while recovering from cancer treatments, Ken was nominated by Coca-Cola to carry the Olympic Torch.

His life was blessed with the love of three wonderful women and a large, blended family. He first married Sharon Bird in 1964, and together they had four children: Kevin, Sherry (Mike), Kory (Roni), and Shelley. He then married Connie Barnhart in 1978, adding two more children to his life: Nephi (Amy) and Emilee (Joel). In 2008, Ken married Judy Bauer, and he warmly welcomed her three adult children into his family: Scott Rhoades, Diane Mazingo, and Mike Rhoades.

Ken’s birthright includes 15 grandchildren: Jake (Bailey), Tate, Shylee, Kaitee, Miller, Elizabeth (Cody), Macy, Brody, Corieshae (Dylan), Shaelynn (Wes), Abby (Alex), Bryson, Nick, Jack, and Naomi, as well as seven great-grandchildren: Kelton, Mataya, Asher, Ariya, Kenadee, Blakely, and Brinley.

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A Life of Service and Joy

Ken was a man of diverse interests. He loved the Oregon Coast, which always held fond memories for the family. He had a passion for golf—playing it, watching it, and volunteering for it. His dedication to service shone brightly through his commitment to the Shriners Children’s Hospital. He volunteered for two years, earning a 1,000-hour recognition for his time at the hospital and volunteering for the Shriners Children’s Timberlake golf fundraisers.

In his retirement, Ken enjoyed the camaraderie at the Riverton Senior Center, where he loved playing cards (especially poker) and shooting pool.

Ken often commented that his life was "Great and Wonderful," and those who knew him would agree: so was HE

Celebration of Life will be held on Nov. 16th 4pm – 6 pm at 11150 S Tydeman Way, South Jordan, UT 84009, United States