Bernard Wilburn Rowden, of Dixon, was born on October 14, 1945 in Miller County Township, a son of Wilburn and Anna Marie (Luebbert) Rowden, and departed this life at 7:20 a.m., Thursday, March 7, 2013, in the Barnes-Jewish Hospital West County, Creve Coeur, following a brief illness. Mr. Rowden had attained the age of 67 years, 4 months and 23 days.

Mr. Rowden was united in marriage on November 29, 1969, at Dixon, to Sue Rains and to this union three daughters were born. He was preceded in death by his father on January 11, 1982; his mother on November 14, 2002; and a sister-in-law, Kathleen Rowden on January 16, 2007.

Mr. Rowden was a member of the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Dixon. He served on the Parish Council and was a recipient of the St. Theresa Award. He graduated from Dixon High School in 1962 and from SMS College in 1966 with a B.S. degree in Education, with a Major in Accounting and a Minor in Math. He then obtained his Masters degree in Math through UMR in 1971. During High School he was President of the FFA, attended ROTC and received numerous typing speed awards. While attending SMS he belonged to the Accounting Club, Business Club, Newman Club, and was on the Dean's Honor Roll. He was a member of the Pi Omega Pi Fraternity. Mr. Rowden was a Farmer, a Math Teacher at Dixon High School for 39 years, and a Bus Driver for the Dixon School System for 47 years. He was a mentor to new teachers, Frisco League Math Club Sponsor, TAB Representative, a member of the Community Teacher Association Salary Committee, High School Commencement speaker, Senior Sponsor and most recently received the MSHSAA award for consecutive years as an official clock keeper at Dixon High School basketball games.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Rowden include: his wife, Sue Rowden of the home near Dixon; three daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa and Michael Shoemaker, Crocker; Cindy and Mark Crowe, St. Louis and Kara and Andy Brandt, Dixon; one brother, Raymond Rowden, Dixon; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Marie and Tom Bradford, Deatsville, Alabama and Louise and Paul Hauck, Salem, Oregon; ten grandchildren, Vance Rowden, Kayli, Logan, M.J., Christian, Patrick and Kaitlyn Shoemaker, Aidan, Keegen and Brendan Crowe; one great grandson, Bennett Rowden; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Edna and Jack Deming, Creve Coeur; Virginia and Lonnie Rollins and Doris and Howard Clark all of Dixon; nephews; nieces; and many other relatives and friends.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Mr. Rowden at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Dixon, with Reverend Walter E. Reisinger officiating. Appropriate musical selections were provided by Donna Knapp.

Interment was in the Egan Cemetery near Dixon under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Dixon. Pallbearers for Mr. Rowden were Aidan Crowe, Vance Rowden, Logan Shoemaker, Howard Clark, Lonnie Rollins and Sammy Sherrell. Honorary pallbearers were Ronnie Bauer, Tony Rush, Ray Schwartze, Jeff Burrows, Bill Veasman, M.J. Shoemaker, Christian Shoemaker, Patrick Shoemaker, Keegen and Brendan Crowe, Steve Hauck, Justin Hauck and Robbie Bradford.

Spiritual offerings to be applied to Masses are preferred by the family with envelopes available at the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Dixon.