Allan (Al to many) was a loving husband, father, grand-father and friend. He passed away peacefully with his daughter at his side.  

 

Allan was born in Lac du bonnet, Manitoba to Victor & Mabel Rowe. After moving to Winnipeg in his teens he met Pauline Sands who became his wife in 1961. They were married August 19th in Pine Falls. This summer would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. Together they raised Richmond (Grant) and Heather Anne and remained in Charleswood.  

 

He was truly a master of many trades. Before computers were a “thing” he was building them and writing programs for them. Some of his programs were fun games and some were complicated mathematical applications that were way ahead of their time.  

 

After their children were born, he built a lovely home in Charleswood where Pauline remains to this day. Every aspect of the house was built by him. Never one to sit idle, he took on the building of an airplane, then a travel trailer, restoring a Willy’s Jeep, a tree house, then a dune-buggy and finally a canoe. He became very adept at wood-working and built wall units for his son’s home, a gorgeous Scandinavian style cradle for his newborn grandchildren. Many of his custom-made pieces remain in our homes.

 

During his 20’s, 30 and 40’s Allan took to the skies flying his small Cesna Piper Cub airplane. Pauline wasn’t a fan, so most of his flights were solo or occasionally with one of his children or a friend.  

 

Since his teenaged years Allan was an avid amateur radio operator (VE4ABU). He volunteered his time to help out during the Manitoba flood of 1979, providing telecommunication links for emergency service. He continued with this much-loved hobby into his 70’s.

 

Allan was also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (Freemasons); the Khartum Temple of the Shrine (Khartum Shrine) Komedians as well as a regular at the original Charleswood Hotel (The Charley) where he made many life-long friends. One of his most heart-warming memories of his time with the Komedians was from a visit to St. Amant in costume to entertain children. The residents there touched him deeply. He could not re-tell the story without tearing up. 

 

Whether building radios, electronics, computers, airplanes, dune-buggies, the home he raised his family in, or the cradle his grandchildren slept in, there was nothing he couldn’t build or fix. He was the one we called on when we needed practical advice, something fixed or built.  

 

Allan was an Electrician by trade. He began Rowe Electric in the 1960’s. During the 70’s he took a position with the Health Sciences Centre in the maintenance department where he remained until the early 90’s. Allan returned to Rowe Electric for a short time before retirement.

 

Allan was predeceased by this parents and younger brother Garth. Over the years many of his life-long close friends passed on ahead of him. Surely, they are all together now enjoying good laughs, a beer or two and being altogether too loud and unruly.  

 

His memory will be cherished by his wife of 59 years, Pauline, his son Grant (Dawn Rowntree) Rowe and daughter Heather (Darryl) Fahlman, his grandchildren Thane Rowntree, Aidan, Liam and Morgan Fahlman.

 

In keeping with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A private family service will be held sometime in the future, Al’s family kindly requests that his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by watching the photo-biography above. Please, also consider sharing your own photos and/or sharing your own memories and stories using the comment section on this page.

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The family wishes to express our utmost appreciation for the amazing staff at Tuxedo Villa. Each and every one of you made a positive difference in Allan’s final years.