Obituary of Stanley Merrill Howe

Stanley M. Howe, 93, of Muscatine, passed away on Friday, April 21, 2017, at his home in Muscatine. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 28, 2017, at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services. Pastor Bruce Ursin will offiate. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery. Following the commital services at the cemetery, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the Geneva Country Club. Visitation for Stanley will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the Wesley United Methodist Church in memory of Stanley. Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com. Stanley Merrill Howe was born Feb 5, 1924 in Muscatine, IA, the second son of Thelma Corriell Howe and Merrill Young Howe. He graduated valedictorian from Muscatine public schools, and enjoyed his friends in the Boy Scouts as well the school yearbook. He studied engineering at Iowa State, and during the summer assisted in the design of power poles for the Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative. After graduating at the top of his class from Ames, he enrolled in Harvard Business School. He often referred to the case study lessons he learned at Harvard later in life. Stan returned to Muscatine and came to work at Home-O-Nize Company with his lifelong mentor and former Boy Scout leader, Max Stanley. The company grew and Stan progressed as well, through 50 years of service, leading the company in many roles including President and CEO. He also served on the HON Board for 38 years holding the position of chairman of the board during the final 12. He shared his knowledge of business with leaders of industry as he served as president of BIFMA. Stan believed and lived the values taught by the Boy Scout oath, his church and Rotary. He enthusiastically embraced the mission of the HON Company, in which you were a member of the company, not just an employee. He was honest, trustworthy, kind; but it was his respect for others that showed itself in how he solved problems; listen first, make a decision, stick with it to conclusion. Stan worked throughout his life to improve education in Iowa. He was instrumental to the success of the Iowa State Foundation through the Industrial Advisory Council of the College of Engineering. Although not a Hawkeye as a youth, he became a key player in the development of the University of Iowa Business School. He served on their Board of Visitors to the Business School and even taught classes. He also actively advised private schools in many ways, including membership in the Council of Independent Colleges. Stan loved his family, his work, his community. He was a member of Rotary, Elks, Thirty Three Club and 10am Coffee Club at the bank. He held positions on several local boards such as, Iowa Wesleyan College board, Musser Library Board, and Muscatine Power and Water Board. In his later years he focused on his dream to create an attractive and useful downtown Muscatine by renovating many of its historic structures. He also loved summers at the family lake cottage, travel, bridge, reading and visiting his children at their homes in various parts of the country. Survivors include his wife, Helen Howe, one daughter Jan O’Callahan of Mercer Island, WA and her husband, Tom. Three sons, Thomas of Normal, IL and his wife Ellen. Steve of Lexington, KY and his wife, Jill, James of Cumming, GA and his wife Rebecca: five grandchildren, Kelly, Brian, and Molly O’Callahan of WA, Addison and Parker Howe of Cumming, GA. He was preceeded in death by his parents and his brother, Dayton Howe of DeWitt, IA.