Leo L. Lowe

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Leo Ludvig Lowe, 78, passed away Monday, October 28, 2013 at Dougherty Hospice House after a brief illness.

Memorial services will begin at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Palisade Lutheran Church, rural Rock County, Minnesota.

A memorial visitation will begin a 3:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson. The family asks that you come and share experiences and memories of Leo.

Leo was born on November 27, 1934 in Luverne, MN to Lee and Olga (Steneberg) Lowe. He went to school in Beaver Creek, MN. He graduated in 1951, and attended college for a year before deciding he much preferred working over studying. He served in the Guard, where he displayed exceptional marksmanship skills.

He married Barb Emery on June 16, 1961. They moved to Martin, SD in 1961, where Leo started a heavy dirt moving business. In the coming years, they would have three children. In addition, they would make many lifelong friends. They returned to the Garretson area in 1974, where Leo began farming. He returned to the construction business, and as each son graduated, brought them into what became the family business. Leo did the dirt work for many important projects. He created the dam at Lake Pahoja in Lyon County, IA, did the dirt work for several golf courses, including the one in Garretson, built soccer fields, created hundreds of miles of terraces, and did dirt work for many large building projects. One of the most well-loved and used dams he built was on his own property. He constructed this dam in 1977. This special place has been the site of many happy family gatherings.

In 2001, Barb passed away. In 2003 he met Nancy Kentfield. For the second time in his life, he loved enough to marry. Leo and Nancy were united in marriage in 2006, in South Carolina.

Leo loved to make people laugh. When you met him, he made you comfortable right away. He had a special way with children and could always coax a smile. He loved to tell jokes, and often had trouble delivering the punch line because he was already laughing. He had an exceptional work ethic and a finely tuned moral compass. He truly loved to work. He also enjoyed visiting with friends, hunting, fishing, playing cards and spending time with family. In addition, he enjoyed fast pitch softball, and would travel with friends to the world fast pitch tournament, wherever it might be in any given year.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Kentfield; children, Rodney, Susan (Kelly) Kruse and Brad; stepchild, Janine Kentfield; 2 grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren and 3 step great-grandchildren and his beloved dog, Bobbi. He was preceded in death by his first wife; parents; beloved uncle, Eddie Steneberg, who raised him from the time he was 4 and brothers, Jim and Marty.