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Thomas John Lowry of Marcellus died Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Bronson Methodist Hospital. He was 85.
He was born May 15, 1926, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Emmet and Irene (Hilliard) Lowry. He married Yvonne Imogene (Bohne) in 1954.
Tom was a lifelong teacher, enlightening students at Pershing Elementary, Berwyn, Ill., Dundee Middle School, Dundee, Ill., and Marcellus Elementary and Marcellus Middle School. He also was an adjunct faculty in the Department of Theatre at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. After retiring, he was the executive director of Carnegie Center for the Arts, Three Rivers (successfully leading the $750,000 capital fund-raiser that resulted in the creation of the Monroe Gallery and renovation of the Carnegie Center). He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, proudly serving overseas during World War II.
He was extremely active in theater as an actor, singer, dancer, makeup artist and director in many locations including Chicago, Jackson Hole, Wyo., Kalamazoo and Three Rivers. Along with his wife and children, the Lowry family entertained audiences in professional and semi-professional settings.
Tom was adviser for the Marcellus High School Honor Society, sponsor for the Marcellus Ski Club, was a troop leader for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in Marcellus, a counselor at Camp Eberhart, and was involved with Sing Out Kalamazoo. He belonged to the Marcellus Rotary Club and was a board member of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.
He was responsible for expanding the arts available in the Three Rivers community, bringing many artists, ballet and symphony to the Carnegie Center. He started an arts program for fourth-graders. He offered religious instruction including pre-Cana, CCD and Christian Family Movement in the Chicago area.
Lowry was named Three Rivers Citizen of the Year in 1998.
Education included a bachelor’s degree at DePaul University, Chicago, and a master’s degree from Andrews University, Berrien Springs.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Yvonne, of the home; six children, Thomas Lowry Jr., Three Rivers, Raymond Lowry, Tucson, Ariz., Eva Yore (Michael), Western Springs, Ill., Patrick Lowry (Jennifer), Hays, Kan., Matthew Lowry, St. Paul, Minn., and Mark Lowry (Ellen), Cary, Ill.; 10 grandchildren, Gabrielle and Caitlin Yore, Sophia Lowry, Jacob and Erin Lowry, Jessica Hopkins and Alexandra Lowry, Chris and Kelly Krueger and Candace Passig; seven great-grandchildren, Madison and Gianna Hopkins, Phylicia Shoemaker, Sky and Kylie Krueger, and Steven and Daniel Krueger; and two great-great-grandchildren, Emma and Caleb Shoemaker.
He is preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Emmet, Robert, Quentin, Joseph and Eugene Lowry; three sisters, Lorraine Lutz, Joan Beriger and Virginia Martin; and two daughters-in-law, Susan (Hotovy) Lowry and Lynda (Jacobson) Lowry.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 31, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Three Rivers. Family will receive friends after the service in the parish hall. Private interment with military honors.
Hohner Funeral Home, Three Rivers, is in charge of arrangements; online messages may be left at hohnerfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Carnegie Center for the Arts, Three Rivers.
