Full Obituary

     CLARENCE J. ROWELL, age 80, of Eau Claire, WI, passed away at Hayward Area Memorial Hospital on Friday, August 14, 2020. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at Thorp Funeral Home in Thorp, WI. Pastor Craig Lindgren and Pastor Matt Miklasz will co-officiate, and burial will follow in the Town of Butler Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Curt Seng, Dave Hebior, Jeff Rowell, Randy Rowell, Dan Burrington and Brian Burrington. Military rites will be conducted by the Thorp American Legion Post #118. Visitation will be held at the funeral home, on Thursday, from 9am until time of service.
     Clarence James Rowell was born on February 7, 1940 in Tomah, WI, the son of James E. and Gertrude A. (Fredrickson) Rowell. He was raised in the Tomah area, and graduated from Tomah High School in 1959. After graduation, Clarence enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 29, 1959 and served until his honorable discharge on May 28, 1965. He returned to Tomah and worked for Schaller's Plumbing for a few years, before going to work on the Milwaukee Railroad, out of Tomah, with his brother Jesse. In the 1970's, he moved to Eau Claire, joined the U.S. Army Reserves, and started in own janitorial service, which he operated for 10 years. Clarence then went to work as a janitor at Oakwood Mall, retiring after 18 years. After his retirement, he helped build the little train ride at Carson Park in Eau Claire. For several summers he went out west to Montana and did volunteer work for the Red Feather Indian Reservation.
     He had many interests, but especially enjoyed traveling, fishing, hunting, and camping.
Clarence is survived by one sister: Mary Lou Burrington of Eau Claire, and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
     He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Asa and Jesse Rowell, and one sister, Bernice Stratton.