1937
Lowell
2023
Lowell Lee Starr
December 22, 1937 — April 1, 2023
Lowell Lee Starr, age 85, of Thomson, IL, passed away Saturday, April 1, 2023 at his home with his family by his side. Burial with a graveside service and military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 7, 2023 at Lower York Cemetery, Thomson, IL.
Lowell was born December 22, 1937, in Maquoketa, IA, the son of Harold and Flossie (Grover) Starr. He spent the majority of his childhood in Maquoketa, then at the age of ten his family moved to Thomson. Lowell graduated from Thomson High School and enlisted in the United States Navy. He served for four years as an electrician aboard ships.
Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Lowell returned home and married Donna Culver on March 5, 1961 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Sabula, IA. In the early days of their marriage, Lowell worked numerous odd jobs before re-enlisting in the Navy for two more years. He then spent the rest of his working years in various chem plants. First with Nitron, then more than 20 years at Chemplex (now known as Lyondell). Throughout his career, Lowell capitalized on opportunities for advancement, taking college courses and graduating from Clinton Community College. He retired at the age of 57.
Lowell immediately took to retired life. Every day he listened to Paul Harvey at noon, and he’d practice playing the bones, in order to keep sharp. He loved wood working, gardening, camping, fishing, and of course, gambling. He and Donna made frequent trips to the casino. Once a family member asked Lowell why they didn’t just move to Las Vegas. His response was simple and true; his family wasn’t in Vegas.
No matter how many hobbies and fun activities Lowell found for he and Donna, family always came first, not just out of duty, but because it was his greatest joy and pride in life! He was always coming up with ideas for gatherings. Anything he could think of to get the family together was worth doing in his eyes. He’d host fish fries and bonfires, and was always calling his kids and grandkids to invite them to share in whatever he was grilling that weekend. He even had special nicknames for each of his grandchildren.
Lowell will be dearly missed by his three children, Daniel Starr, of Thomson, Laura (Alan) Rathje, of Low Moor, IA, and Lisa Johnson, of Thomson and honorary son, Danny (Deanna) Rathje, of Sabula, IA; two grandchildren, Sabrina “Princess” (Michael) Schulze and Bailey “Angel” (Brian) Bouchard; and great-granddaughter, Charlotte Rose. Lowell is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Flossie; wife, Donna; grandson, Tobias “Puzzle” Lowell Johnson; and brothers, Kenneth (Arlene) Starr and Ronald Starr.
Lowell was born December 22, 1937, in Maquoketa, IA, the son of Harold and Flossie (Grover) Starr. He spent the majority of his childhood in Maquoketa, then at the age of ten his family moved to Thomson. Lowell graduated from Thomson High School and enlisted in the United States Navy. He served for four years as an electrician aboard ships.
Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Lowell returned home and married Donna Culver on March 5, 1961 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Sabula, IA. In the early days of their marriage, Lowell worked numerous odd jobs before re-enlisting in the Navy for two more years. He then spent the rest of his working years in various chem plants. First with Nitron, then more than 20 years at Chemplex (now known as Lyondell). Throughout his career, Lowell capitalized on opportunities for advancement, taking college courses and graduating from Clinton Community College. He retired at the age of 57.
Lowell immediately took to retired life. Every day he listened to Paul Harvey at noon, and he’d practice playing the bones, in order to keep sharp. He loved wood working, gardening, camping, fishing, and of course, gambling. He and Donna made frequent trips to the casino. Once a family member asked Lowell why they didn’t just move to Las Vegas. His response was simple and true; his family wasn’t in Vegas.
No matter how many hobbies and fun activities Lowell found for he and Donna, family always came first, not just out of duty, but because it was his greatest joy and pride in life! He was always coming up with ideas for gatherings. Anything he could think of to get the family together was worth doing in his eyes. He’d host fish fries and bonfires, and was always calling his kids and grandkids to invite them to share in whatever he was grilling that weekend. He even had special nicknames for each of his grandchildren.
Lowell will be dearly missed by his three children, Daniel Starr, of Thomson, Laura (Alan) Rathje, of Low Moor, IA, and Lisa Johnson, of Thomson and honorary son, Danny (Deanna) Rathje, of Sabula, IA; two grandchildren, Sabrina “Princess” (Michael) Schulze and Bailey “Angel” (Brian) Bouchard; and great-granddaughter, Charlotte Rose. Lowell is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Flossie; wife, Donna; grandson, Tobias “Puzzle” Lowell Johnson; and brothers, Kenneth (Arlene) Starr and Ronald Starr.
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