Ray Homer Lowman

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg. Burial is in Rush Lake Cemetery, Curlew. The family will greet friends from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday at the funeral home. Ray Homer Lowman was born June 21, 1931, on the family farm north of Curlew, Iowa, the son of Homer Nathan and Ethel May (Hatch) Lowman. He attended school in Curlew, and he was a 1949 graduate of Curlew High School. Ray moved to Emmetsburg in 1951. He worked in his future father-in-law's welding shop until he lost his eye, after which he owned the bowling alley and ran a gas truck. On June 14, 1953, Ray was united in marriage to Lois Hauenstein at the First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg. Ray began working for Hillers Carpet in 1955 where he became part owner. He laid carpet for 10 years and sold carpet for another 10 years. He joined Wigdahl's Hardware in 1975, and two years later, he began working as custodian of Emmetsburg Community Schools where he was affectionately known as "Sugar Ray." In 1993, Ray retired from the Emmetsburg Community Schools. Ray was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg and a former membe...[more]

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f the Emmetsburg Jaycee's. Ray and Lois opened their home to many foster children. He loved camping trips with family, and when his kids were growing up, he would always take them camping at Adventureland for one week every summer. Later in life, he took his grandkids camping on weekends, and he enjoyed trying to teach some of them how to fish. Ray and Lois also enjoyed winters in Texas for a few years after their retirements. He was an avid bowler which included a perfect game. He also enjoyed being outdoors doing yardwork, watching birds, gardening, and making board games for his grandkids. Ray truly enjoyed coffee with friends and time with family. He will always be remembered for his smile, jokes, and one liners. On March 24, 2014, Ray passed away at the Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg. Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Lois of Emmetsburg; a son, Terry & Carolyn Lowman of Emmetsburg and their children: Nick, Rachel, Matthew and Emily; three daughters: Conni & John Sweers of Wesley, IA and their children: Erin Padgett (Bob), Kelly Sweers (Becca), Scott, and Chris; Vicki & Keith Truog of Pocahontas and their children: Tasha Moore (Ron), Jeremy,and Jamie, and Lori & Tom Brown of Graettinger and their children: Joe, Jake, Kyle and Nikki; foster daughter: Judy Boyken and her children: Amber Parcel (Dan) and Dan Boyken (Niki); foster son, Danny Roland; and Ray's sister, Viola Laws Sampson of Emmetsburg, and 14 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; their daughter, Suzanne Lowman; and his brother, Lyle Lowman.