Richard R. Rowan

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Richard (Dick) Raymond Rowan, husband of Sharon (Bebber) Rowan, proud father of four, cherished grandfather of ten. After a long battle with his third bout of cancer, he passed away peacefully on February 9th, at the age of 80. He was surrounded by the family he loved.

Richard was born on January 3, 1946 to Mary and Raymond Rowan in Rochester, New York. One of six siblings, he spent many weekends with family members on his grandparents’ farm in Albion, New York. Some of his fondest memories were spent during this time working and playing with his siblings and cousins.

At the age of 17, Richard joined the Navy and served as a weather airman in Vietnam. With his crew, he flew numerous flights into full blown typhoons. As a member of VW-1, Navy Typhoon Trackers, he gathered weather data and sent reports to the troops on the ground. Often they had to dodge hostile fire. With bravery he seldom talked about, he developed a strong sense of service and duty. After returning home, Richard attended Monroe Community College and received an Associated Degree in Business.

As a young man, Richard became an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting with his brothers and his uncle in the Albion area. Later, he would go on hunting weekends in South Dakota and Nebraska with his brothers and sons. Richard enjoyed fishing in Lake Ontario, as well as the many streams of western NY. After developing a passion for racing, he purchased a 1966 Super Sport Chevelle. He could be found racing with friends at various speedways and often won trophies or cash prizes.

In 1973, Richard moved to Colorado in search of sunshine. He applied and was accepted to Denver University. However, with a couple of friends, he established a drywall company instead. Soon he met Sharon and married in 1974. Afterwards, they had four wonderful children. Together, they built their home in 1988. Richard designed the attached greenhouse, where he spent several happy hours nurturing his citrus and banana trees.

Richard loved simple things…running, metal detecting, and sports. Often, he could be found spending an afternoon with his metal detector in City Park. He was an avid Bronco, Avalanche, and Nuggets fan. Many hours were spent watching professional sporting events and many more watching his kids and grandkids play various sports. Richard became a loving presence in first his children’s lives, and later the lives of his grandchildren. They loved listening to stories he would tell about his childhood and the early years of his life.

After retiring, Richard became an advocate for other veterans trying to receive VA benefits. He spent countless hours assisting his friends in filing paperwork, making phone calls, and sending emails. He learned how to navigate the process and wanted to share his knowledge by helping others. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, was responsible for providing medical care and support for Richard through three bouts of cancer due to the Agent Orange he was exposed to during his time in Vietnam.

Richard is survived by his wife, Sharon (Bebber) Rowan, four children-Eric and Brooke Rowan (Trenton and Colton), Cory and Tamera Rowan (Tavyn, Joshua, and Chase), Leah and Todd Rupp (Austin and Delaney), Todd and Elizabeth Rowan (Olivia, Aaron, and Brenna). In addition to his children and grandchildren, Richard is survived by siblings Stephen (Gail), Edward, Kathleen Webster, Mary Jean, and Daniel (Therese). He was preceded in death by his parents (Raymond and Mary Rowan), and Kathleen’s husband (Robert Webster). He is also survived by Sharon’s brothers, Kurt Bebber (Cindy Chang), and Gary Bebber (Karen). Sharon’s brother, Duane Bebber, passed away in 2024. Richard will be missed by his immediate family, plus numerous extended family members and many friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July, 18th, at Broomfield Community Center, 280 Spader Way, Broomfield, CO. Please join us from 1:00-4:00, to honor and share memories of Richard’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any Veterans’ organization, the Colorado Wildlife Foundation, or a charity of your choice. A Committal Service at Ft. Logan National Ceremony will be held at a later date.