Jan. 25, 1948 — March 2, 2014

Dr. Richard E. Stowe, age 66 years of Niles, and former long-time resident of Berrien Springs, Mich. died at 9 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, 2014, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center at Saint Joseph, Mich. unexpectedly but of natural causes.

He was born on Jan. 25, 1948, in Muncie, Ind. to Manuel and Mildred (McClish) Stowe. He was graduated from Bellevue High School in Nebraska and served a tour of duty in the United States Army, and was discharged as a veteran of the Viet Nam Era. He was employed for many years at the former Indiana Michigan Power (now AEP). He then completed classes at Lake Michigan College, and earned the Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the former Life Chiropractic College (now Life University) in Marietta, Georgia. He established the Advanced Chiropractic Clinic in Berrien Springs where he practiced for 32 years, and recently opened the Advanced Chiropractic Clinic in Niles.

Doc’s life revolved around chiropractic health care as a practitioner, public educator, mentor to young doctors and his own continuing education including limitless reading. He was also an outdoorsman, especially enjoying fishing and hunting, and riding with the Goldwing Riders Association.

On June 20, 1970 at the Morris Chapel in Niles he married the former Karen Marie Anstiss, who preceded him in death on March 18, 1992. He was also preceded in death by a grandchild, Victoria “Paige” Mitchell on January 28, 1992.

Surviving family includes his children, Kimberly Stowe of Niles, Daniel Stowe of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Karen Fordyce of Royal Oak, Michigan; grandchildren Taylor Tipton, Jacquelyn Mitchell, Zane Mitchell, Joshua Stowe, Cory Zimmerman, and Brandon Zimmerman; a great-granddaughter, Hayden Legus; and Doc’s siblings, Edward (Gail) Stowe of Essex, Vermont, Carol (Ken) Zilisch of Harrisville, New Hampshire, Phillip Stowe of Texas, and Vicki (Al) Woodard of Cassopolis, Michigan; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Dr. Richard Stowe will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 7, 2014, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Dan Puckett of Granger Community Church, officiating.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday at the funeral home from 2 until 4 and 6 until 8 p.m. Contributions in memory of Doc Stowe may be made to Life University in Marietta, Georgia. The family also requests that, in lieu of any flowers, friends purchase and read Doc Stowe’s most favorite book “Illusions” by Richard Bach.

www.halbritterfunerals.com