CHESTER - Rev. Dr. Paul Edwin Rowley "Pastor Ed" age 77, of Chester passed away at 4:50 PM, Thursday, May 16, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri.

Paul was born on February 8, 1942, in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Paul and Delma (Staples) Rowley. He married Ruth Wuerffel, on June 19, 1966, in Lakefield, MN.

Pastor Rowley was a graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo where he also earned a Masters in Counseling.  He received his Doctor of Ministry through the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

He served churches in Carrington and Sykeston, ND; Inez, TX; and Bremen, Chester, and Wine Hill, IL. He was a pastoral counselor at Lutheran Social Services in Aberdeen, SD and Peoria, IL; at Pastoral Services, Bromenn, Bloomington, IL, and Samaritan Counseling in Odessa, TX.  The Evangelical Church in America was planning to recognize him for his 50 years in the ministry at the Assembly in June.

Pastor Ed was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who liked to tell stories and laugh with people.

Surviving:  Wife of 53 years - Ruth    Daughter - Anne (Keith) Brown of Ossipee, NH    Son -   Brian (Jennifer McDonald) Rowley of Del Valle, TX   Grandchildren – David and Amanda Bartee, Heidi Broussard, and Jacob and Emily Brown.

Preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Delma DeWeerth, and granddaughter Heather Bartee.

Memorial Service at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bremen, Pastor Dennis Scoville,  May 25 at 11am with visitation from 9-11, at the church. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Research. Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville is assisting the family with the arrangements.