Lowell C. Bates 1930 - 2017

BATES, MACKLEM, BENNETT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/8/2017 at 13:14:47

Sioux City Journal
2 February 2017

SIOUX CITY | Lowell C. Bates, 86, of Sioux City, passed away peacefully Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, at Sunrise Retirement Community.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Sunrise Retirement Community, Gerwulf Center. Visitation with the family will be 5 to 7 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Sunrise Retirement Community. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City.

Lowell was born on Oct. 14, 1930, in Vermillion, S.D., to Gertrude (Macklem) and Leslie Bates. He graduated from Hinton (Iowa) High School in 1950.

Lowell met and three months later married the love of his life, Virginia Bennett on Dec. 4, 1952. They just celebrated 64 years of love. This union resulted in three children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Lowell proudly served in the Iowa National Guard with the 133rd Infantry Regiment in the early 1950s. This is where he attended Food Service School at Camp Atterbury, Ind., and discovered his love of cooking. Lowell would always say that he was a jack of all trades and a master of none. This was only partially true, those of us who knew and loved him thought he could do anything. Some of his many trades were working in Siedschlag's Grocery Store, truck driver for Boyer's Provisions, welder for North American Manufacturing, plumber for Stockburger's Hardware, chief cook and co-owner of V & L Cafe, maintenance for Remsen Union Schools and then he retired to do his favorite job of all which was to care for his grandchildren.

Before Alzheimer's set in, Lowell loved to play cards, watch old westerns on TV, read and watch his favorite baseball team the Cubs. He was loved by his family and friends and would do anything to help anyone that he could.

Lowell will be loved and remembered by his wife, Virginia; three children, Larry (Kathy) Bates, LeeAnn Fox, and Steve Bates, all of Sioux City; five grandchildren, Brad (Mary Beth) Bates, Brent (Ashley) Bates, Brock (Chelbie) Bates, Grady and Katie Fox; five beautiful great-grandchildren; sisters, Opal Harrison, and Doris (Gordon) Arndt; a brother, Kenneth (Sue) Bates; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Kenny Fox; and brother-in-law, Darrell Harrison.

Special thanks to the Sunrise Retirement Community and Hospice of Siouxland for their loving care and support.