Peter Lowe

Peter Wesley Lowe was born to Ida Casady Lowe and Lewis Lowe near Fowlerville, Michigan on February 27, 1938. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Fowlerville High School in 1956. He attended Michigan State University where he studied chemistry and played the French horn in the Spartan Marching Band. Over the years he did graduate studies at the University of Detroit , Northern Michigan University and Nazareth College.

Peter worked as a high school chemistry teacher, then entered the paper industry, where he was an industrial chemist, sales representative, and manager. He spent most of his career in management at Simpson (Lee) Paper Company in Vicksburg, Michigan, along with brief tenures in Munising, Michigan and Appleton, Wisconsin.

He enjoyed farming, furniture-making, gardening and tractor restoration. Pete was a voracious reader of Civil War history as well as spiritual and philosophical works. He was a longtime member of Vicksburg United Methodist Church and Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Portage, Michigan. In retirement he found great joy in participating in and teaching conflict resolution, the Disciple Bible Study program and Stephen Ministry in his faith communities.

In 1996 Peter was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Through his 13 year battle he participated in numerous clinical studies in an effort to help others with the disease. He continually engaged life with courage and compassion.

Peter is survived by his wife Nancy (Maleitzke) to whom he would have been married for 50 years on December 17. Also are surviving are daughters are Noreen “Noni” Heikes (Burt) and Linette Lowe (Jay Dolen), and grandchildren William, Cassandra and Elizabeth Heikes and Jaymeson Peter Lowe Dolen.

Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4-7 pm at the Portage Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 7028 Oakland Drive and services will be held at 11 am Monday at the same location.

Please visit Pete’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his life story and archive a favorite memory. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to the ALS Association (Michigan Chapter), Chapel Hill UMC Food Pantry, or Hospice of Southwest Michigan.

Arrangements by Life Story Funeral Homes, Portage, 5975 Lovers Lane (344-5600).