Gene E. Howe

Private Funeral Services for Gene Howe, 85, will be held at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Milo. Burial will be at the Belmont Cemetery.

Memorials are requested to The Gideons International because Gene believed in spreading the good news, providing scripture, and prayers.

Gene was a humble servant of the Lord and did not want a fancy service with a big to do about him, he wanted to provide a message of hope and salvation.  That sounds just like Gene, doesn’t it?

Gene Edwin Howe was born on March 17, 1937, at home in Milo, Iowa to Louis and Eva Howe. He was raised in Milo with his three siblings: Shirley, Patsy, and Bob. Gene learned to fly and obtained his pilot’s license before he became licensed to drive a car. He had a lifelong love for airplanes and belonged to the Solar Flying Club for many years. Graduating from Milo High School in 1954, he then attended Drake University. 

Gene was married to Lyla Clevenger in 1956 and was blessed with three sons: Mark, Michael, and Matthew. In August of 1974 he  married Sharon Bowman and welcomed daughters: Barbara and Sheri. Gene loved his family and enjoyed time spent with his children and grandchildren.

He loved working with his hands and was a mechanic for many years and owned and operated The Wash House, a laundromat on the south side of Des Moines. After retiring, Gene and Sharon traveled the world. They enjoyed trips to Israel, Philippines, Scotland, and England and traveled extensively through the continental United States often spending time searching for ancestors.  Gene was a history buff and had a great passion for reading and learning about World War II the last several years.

Gene possessed a deep faith and was a longtime member of Grace Church in Des Moines where he used his many talents to fix everything from the church bus to the church boiler. In 1985, he became a member of the Gideons and was very passionate about spreading the good news.

Gene passed away Sunday, February 26, 2023. Preceding him in death were his parents: Louis and Eva; son, Michael; granddaughter, Sofia; sisters: Patsy Mart and Shirley Wadle; brother-in-law, Al Mart; and sister-in-law, Irene Howe. 

He will be greatly missed by his beloved wife, Sharon; children: Mark (Diana) Howe, Matthew Howe, Barbara (Todd) Niccum, and Sheri Khan; grandchildren: Lisa (Jason) Howe, Laura Howe, Noah Khan, Zane Khan, Jackson Niccum, Savanna Howe, Hannah Howe, and Emaan Khan; great grandchildren: Lucius and Julian Howe; brother, Bob Howe; brother-in-law, Jim Wadle; along with many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.