Jo (Baker) Rowen

Jo Rowen, 90, of Saint Marys, died 5:18 P.M. Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Vancrest of Saint Marys.

She was born June 3, 1932, in Waynesfield, Ohio, the daughter of Ed and Pauline (Craft) Baker.

She married James Rowen on August 10, 1948, in Covington, Kentucky, and he preceded her in death on June 13, 2005.

She is survived by her children: Barbara (Robert) Kovar of Celina; Jim (Neva) Rowen of Saint Marys; Chuck (Theresa) Rowen of Saint Marys; Deb (Gary) Orr of Saint Marys; Kelly (Neil) Pfenning of Saint Marys; Mindy (Jerry Houser) of Saint Marys; by 15 grandchildren; by 24, great-grandchildren; by her brother, Ed Baker of Wapakoneta; her sister-in-law, Dottie Baker of Shawnee.

She was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband, Jim Rowen; by her brother, Thomas Baker; by her son-in-law, Jimmy Henline; by her sister-in-law, Mary Ann Baker.

Jo attended Waynesfield High School and retired from the housekeeping department at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital. She was also the co-owner of the Equity Dairy Store and Rowen’s Cafeteria in Saint Marys.

Jo was an avid reader and loved spending time with her family, but she will also be remembered by many family friends as a great listener who truly cared about the needs of others. She always wanted to “make it right” no matter what she was doing, and was an excellent organizer.  She was the Mom of six children, but was a true Mother to many more. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Saint Marys.

Funeral rites will be held 12:00 noon Monday, January 16, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church in Saint Marys, the Reverend Bill Maki, officiant. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-6 p.m. Sunday at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys, where memorial gifts may be given to either the Zion Lutheran Church Roof Replacement Fund; Holy Rosary School or Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ Breaking Bread Program.

Condolences may be sent to Jo’s family via Millerfuneralhomes.net