Herbert E. Rowsam

LOWVILLE- A graveside service for Herbert E. “Herb” Rowsam, 80, of Stowe Street, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on May 10, 2025 at Martinsburg Cemetery.  Herb passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at Mary Immogene Basset Hospital in Cooperstown, N.Y.  Arrangements are with Iseneker Funeral Home, Inc., Lowville.

LOWVILLE- Herbert E. “Herb” Rowsam, 80, of Stowe Street, passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at Mary Immogene Basset Hospital in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2025 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at Iseneker Funeral Home, 5702 Waters Road, Lowville.  A funeral service will be held Sunday at 1:30 P.M. following the calling hours at the funeral home with Deacon Ron Gingerich officiating.  Spring burial will be in Martinsburg Cemetery.  A luncheon will follow the funeral service at Lowville Fire Hall, all are welcome.  Food donations may be dropped off beginning at 11:00 A.M. at the fire hall the morning of the funeral.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Herb’s name to the Martinsburg Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 143 Martinsburg, N.Y. 13404 or to the Valley Snow Travelers, 7491 NYS Route 12, Lowville, N.Y. 13367

Herb is survived by four children, Cheryl and Daryl Robbins of Lowville; Gene and Laurie Rowsam of Lowville; Laurie and Rick Defone of Rochester; Craig and Penny Rowsam of Lowville; thirteen grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren; four siblings, James Rowsam of Lowville, Loren (Carlene) Rowsam of Lowville, Bernice Ardison of Croghan, and Jane (Donald) Abel of Anderson, S.C.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.  He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Betty who passed away on March 1, 2024; one grandson, Andrew Rowsam; a brother and sister-in-law, John and Shirley Rowsam; twin sisters Helen and Helena Rowsam; a sister-in-law, Joan Rowsam; and a brother-in-law, Bernard Ardison.

He was born on November 26, 1944 in Lowville, N.Y., a son of the late Lynn and Grace Castle Rowsam.  Herb graduated from Lowville Academy in 1962 and shortly after began working at Lyons Falls Pulp and Paper.  On September 12, 1964 he married Betty J. Kaban at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Lowville, a loving union of 59 years.  He worked for Lee Carpentry building homes for a time before operating Victor Steria’s Farm in West Martinsburg together with his wife Betty for 27 years.  He then worked for Hoch Brothers and retired from V.S. Virkler and Son as a service technician.

He enjoyed playing soft ball on the Baker’s Grill team and other teams in his early years.  Herb had a passion for hunting, going to camp, and for snowmobiles.  Herb was well known for his love of snowmobile racing and was known as Mr. Snow Jet.  He loved attending vintage snowmobile shows and taking his sled on the Old Dog Run held by Ed Yancey and later the Valley Snow Travelers.  Herb enjoyed riding along with Ben Dubois while he was grooming the snowmobile trails around the hill.  He loved tractors of all sizes and often attended tractor parades with Betty, garden tractor pulls, and vintage tractor pulls at the Lewis County Fair.  Herb also enjoyed playing cards at Doyle’s Pub and the Elks Lodge.  Above all, he enjoyed family gatherings and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Herb was of Methodist faith.  He was an early member of the Valley Snow Travelers, a 45 year member with the Martinsburg Volunteer Fire Department, and a member of the BPOE #1605 Lowville Elks Lodge.  He was also a part of the daily coffee family at Lloyd’s of Lowville for many years.

Condolences may be made to Herb’s family online at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.