Dr. Jack Rowlett

Jack Gowan Rowlett, 94, formerly of Paola, Kansas, passed away Monday, April 4, 2016 at the Life Care Center in Osawatomie, Kansas. A diamond in the rough, Jack Rowlett was a brilliant and loyal doctor, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a constant friend. Rarely a dull moment, "Dr Jack" or "Doc" or "Grandpa" as he was most commonly referred, created a joyful atmosphere where laughter was abundant in his presence. Nothing was ever too much trouble or out of the realm for Dr. Jack"s role as a physician. A good old country doctor, there are countless stories about how he took incredible and selfless out-of-the-ordinary strides to get a patient to safety or to deliver a baby. In fact, delivering several hundred (at least) babies in Paola was not only one of his proudest accomplishments; it was also his most common topic with locals around town. Reminiscing his doctor days brought so much joy to him, as did hearing community members say "You delivered my baby, Doc!" It only makes sense that his life work as a small town doctor was his calling, as he decided he wanted to be a doctor in the fourth grade after reading the book "The Horse and Buggy Doctor" by Arthur E. Hertzler. Jack was born June 6, 1921 in Oil Hill, Kansas. He was the oldest of three children born to Crayton and Carolee (Gowan) Rowlett. He grew up in Madison and McPherson, Kansas and graduated from McPherson High School in 1938. He entered the U.S. Army Air Force August 5, 1942. He was in the 8th and 9th air force division. He participated in the 86th fighter bomber squadron, 310th bomber squadron and the 354th fighter wing. He was honorably discharged as Major Jack Rowlett on January 30th, 1946. Jack was united in marriage to Elizabeth Victoria Johnson on February 20, 1943 in Bossier City, Louisiana. Together they lived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Lawrence, Kansas; and Overland Park, Kansas before making their home in Paola, in 1953. Jack and Elizabeth together became the proud parents of three children. Over their 61 years of marriage, we were witness to their strong bond. Most of the time we saw two parts making up greater than a whole, with lots of teasing between the two and of course, copious laughter. Constantly at least one dog in the family, usually named Buddy, their dogs provided an even deeper love and delight in the home. Jack received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa following his service in WW II. He then attended medical school at the University of Kansas and graduated in 1952. He completed his residency at St. Luke"s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri before starting his practice in Paola, in 1953. Jack and medical school classmate, Rex Stanley, started their practice in the first floor of an old house on South Silver Street, on what is now the north parking lot of the Dairy Queen. Soon, they built a new building and started the Miami County Clinic on Hospital Drive. Both Dr. Rowlett and Dr. Stanley retired in 1997. Jack served his community as Paola City Councilman from 1972 to 1979 and then Mayor from 1979 to 1981. He had enjoyed many hobbies including woodworking, HAM radio, flying and reading. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth, who died January 7, 2005. Jack had one brother, Charles William Rowlett of Dallas, Texas, who has also passed away, and one sister, Mary Lou Bledsoe, who still lives with her husband, Donald, in Austin, Texas. He is survived by three children, Jack Rowlett II and his wife Nancy of Paola, Jane Ball of Overland Park, Kansas, and Charles Rowlett and his wife Donna of Centerville, Kansas. Jack has five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Jack Rowlett loved, lived, and worked hard. His legacy will live on through the critical influence he created by loving his family, friends and patients. A larger-than-life existence, we will miss him greatly. Due to Jack and Lib"s life-long affection for dogs, his memorial fund will support Olive's Hope Pet Rescue. There will be a celebration of life visitation 1:00 " 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Paola Country Club, 29651 Old KC Rd., Paola, KS. To share a memory of Jack or leave a special condolence message for his family, please click the Share Memories tab.