Belva Aleen Rowe

May 8, 1932 - January 20, 2018

Belva Aleen Rowe, age 85, of Albia, passed away on January 20, 2018, at Oakwood Specialty Care Center in Albia. Belva was born on May 8, 1932, in New Sharon, IA, to Robert and Elizabeth Ferneau. She grew up and attended school in Iowa where she has lived her whole life other than one year when she and her husband lived in California when he was in the Marines. She married Jearl Dean Rowe on November 24, 1951, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. To this union, 5 children were born, Jennifer, Alan, Elizabeth (Betsy), Christine, and Brett. Belva and Jearl shared 42 years of marriage prior to his passing on June 15, 1994. Belva was a homemaker all of her life. She loved to write poetry and was a member of the Writer’s Club. She also enjoyed collecting dolls and miniature dogs. Belva is survived by her two sons; Alan (Arnie) Rowe of Albia; Brett (Tess) Rowe of Albia; two daughters, Jennifer (Kenneth) Collard of Corydon, IN, and Elizabeth (Randy) Erickson of Ft. Collins, CO; ten grandchildren; Kenneth Collard, Lauralee Collard Peppers, Sherryl Mae Rowe, Arlan Dean Rowe, Jeremy Rowe, Anthony Rowe, Alexander Erickson, Steven Erickson, Kyle Rowe and Ryan Rowe; one great grandchild, Gunner Rowe; and two sisters; Grace Carter of Knoxville, IA and Alice Enfield of Melcher, IA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jearl; her parents, Robert and Elizabeth; and a daughter, Christine. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Belva’s family present from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. to greet family and friends. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 25, 2018, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Father Michael E. Volkmer C.PP.S. officiating. Burial will follow services at Oak View Cemetery in Albia. A memorial has been established to Oakwood Specialty Care Center in Albia.