Elroy Lowe

Elroy C. Lowe, age 80, passed away peacefully at his home in Buffalo Center on Friday, July 12, 2024 after a courageous fight against cancer.

A memorial service was held on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson. Inurnment followed at Rose Hill Cemetery in Thompson. Visitation took place from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson.

Elroy Clifton Lowe was born June 10, 1944, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the only child of Clifton and Evelyn Gaard Lowe. He grew up around the Thompson, Iowa area and graduated from Thompson High School in 1963.

Growing up, he helped his dad on the farm with livestock and raising crops. Over the years, he often shared many stories about his time on the farm. When his stepson Chad started raising livestock, Elroy was always eager to help out whenever he could.

Elroy was an over-the-road trucker for over 50 years, and he also farmed the land on his parents’ home place. At one point in his career, he owned land in northern and southern Iowa and had several trucks in his fleet. He saw almost every state in the country and hauled both small and large loads. He made it a point to take pictures of every load and loved to share the photos.

Throughout his career, Elroy had many dogs who joined him on the road and who had a special place in his heart. Some of his favorites were ones that just “showed up” at the farm and quickly became devoted to him. Before being diagnosed with cancer, Elroy most recently worked as an independent trucker for Mercer Transportation out of Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1997, Elroy married his best friend and love of his life, Mary Lee Honken, in a ceremony at the lake cabin by Tuttle Lake, Iowa.

In his free time, Elroy enjoyed water skiing, fishing, collecting cars, helping his friends on their land, and tinkering around the farm. He was happiest when working in the field and planting crops every year.

Elroy is survived by his wife Mary Lee Lowe of Buffalo Center; daughters Dee Lowe of Brooklyn, NY and Theresa Lowe of Kansas City, MO; stepsons Chad (Tracy) Doyle of Lake Mills and Cory (Erica) Doyle of Ireton; and grandchildren Aidan, Olivia, and Sophia Trout of Kansas City, MO, and Hunter Doyle of Ireton. Elroy was preceded in death by his parents and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.