Phillip Arthur Rowe

Phillip A. Rowe, 72, of Battle Creek, lost his final battle on this earth on February 27, 2025 while trying to recover after surgery for a fractured vertebrae. 

Phil was born on November 23, 1952, the son of Wilbur and Dorothy (Fann) Rowe. He attended Battle Creek Central High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1969. After receiving his Honorable Discharge with the rank of Sergeant, Phil was employed at Grand Trunk Western Railroad for 22 years. 

Phil married Cheryl Moran at the Chapel in the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 7, 1989 and were accompanied by several close friends. They were married 35 years. 

Phil loved the outdoors, which included hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed doing the following activities with Cheryl: traveling, camping, hiking, bike riding, listening to music, watching TV (especially football), surfing the internet, and going to the Casino once in a while. His “born to be wild side” was satisfied by riding his Harley-Davidson. When he was able, he also enjoyed spending time with his nieces (Katie Plummer and Kelly LaPorte) and nephew (Christopher Wolney), and his great nieces (Lindsay Plummer, Joleana LaPorte and Amber LaPorte) and great nephew (Jaydon Plummer). 

Phil was a fighter in every sense of the word. He survived lung cancer in 2002 and 2005. When he was faced with an inoperable tumor in 2006 and a panel of physicians at the University of Michigan gave him 16 months to live, he did his own research and found a treatment called “proton beam therapy”. With the help of his Oncologist at the West Michigan Cancer Center, he was able to receive this treatment at M D Anderson in Houston, Texas that completely eradicated the tumor. 

In 2015 he needed to have a triple by-pass, and after two of the by-passes failed, he received 4 stents and a pacemaker. Phil had a couple of good years after his heart surgery, but his health deteriorated to where he had to go on oxygen for the rest of his life. 

Surviving are Cheryl, his wife of 35 years and his nieces and nephews. Phil was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Cynthia “Cindy” Drury.  

He will be missed by family and friends.

A celebration of life is being planned for this summer and will take place following services to be scheduled at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association.  Arrangements by the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care.  Personal messages may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com