Craig Rowan

 Craig Rowan, 100, was born Sept. 24, 1923, in New York City and died May 17, 2024, in Boise, Idaho.  

 Craig graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont and from the Veterinary School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.  

 Following graduation, he started his mixed animal veterinary practice in Weiser, Idaho.  He retired from that practice in Weiser after 55 years to provide veterinary services for Simplot Company’s cattle business until he was 95. 

 Craig was passionate about his work. He received several awards from both Idaho and nationally for outstanding medical innovations and achievements in his field.

 Craig married his wonderful wife, Tensie (Hortense) Ford, a veterinary graduate from Cornell University (New York) in Weiser, Idaho on July 19, 1953.  They practiced together for nine years until their growing family of six children, including one daughter (Peggy) who suffered severe brain damage immediately following her birth, dictated that it was more important for her to be a full-time homemaker.

 Above all, Craig was devoted to his family. He and Tensie took multiple and very memorable cross-country driving trips with their young family visiting all of the states, except Hawaii. Craig enjoyed spending time with his family at Tensie’s family’s rustic log cabin on Payette Lake in McCall where the kids learned to water ski and explore nature.  At one point, Craig decided it would be a great idea to introduce the family to snow skiing.  As a result, the entire family started ski lessons on the same day.  To help facilitate the family skiing adventure, Craig was involved with launching and building the ski lift at Hitt Mountain near Cambridge. When the family outgrew that mountain, the family made many trips to Brundage Mountain in McCall and Sun Valley.  

 At their small ranch in Weiser, Craig and his family raised beef cattle, milk cows, sheep, hogs, and chickens, and various other animals both common and uncommon. Craig and Tensie loved animals and believed caring for the animals instilled in their kids a strong work ethic and important lessons in responsibility.  Caring for the animals also gave the kids an opportunity to participate in 4-H programs with their animals. The family enjoyed horseback riding, hunting, and riding and racing dirt bikes on the property and around the Pacific Northwest.

 Craig lived a full and rewarding life. 

 He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Tensie, youngest son Bruce, and brother Roy Rowan and Helen Rowan of Greenwich, Conn.  

 He is survived by his five other children Ron (Ann) Rowan of Baker City, Ore.; Barry (Linda) Rowan of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Paul (Becky) Rowan of Boise, Idaho; Ann (Rob) Whyte of Paradise Valley, Ariz.; and Margaret (Peggy) Rowan of Meridian, Idaho; and eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

 Private graveside services will be held for the family at Hillcrest Cemetery, Weiser, Idaho. Arrangements under the direction of Thomason Funeral Home.