Emerson Howe

Emerson Cornell Howe got his wings Thursday, July 4th, 2024, at 5:45 am as the sun was filling the skies with a beautiful show of light. This was his favorite time of day. He was born on May 6th, 1932, in Lake Luzerne, New York. He was raised on the family farm housing dairy cows, horses, chickens. The farm was also a continuing multi- generational lumberman business and a sugar shack. 

Emerson was preceded in death by parents Warren Cornell Howe and Urilla “Rilla” Naomi Ramsey Howe; brother Henry Howe and sister Eunice Howe (Croft); his first wife Elizabeth Eugenia Powell Howe (d. 1985) and his second wife Mary Lois Larsen Howe (d. 2015). 

While in college the draft called him to serve. He was a Seabee in the Navy and was proud to serve his country and always eager to share his experiences. 

Emerson was called home to help his ailing father run the farm. On his way to New York, he took a detour to Virginia to marry Betty Gene Powell. He met Betty at a USO Dance and they became pen pals. They were married in February of 1954. He remained on the farm after his father’s death in 1956 until 1959 when they moved to Virginia, then on to New Jersey where he earned a degree in aeronautics, while working for Pinkerton and Bergen Wire Rope. From there the family of 4 moved to Massachusetts where he worked for Kaman Aircraft, finally settling in Hartland, Connecticut working for Pratt & Whitney. After several years he was offered a VQC position in Michigan representing P&W. 

Emerson always stayed active growing a huge vegetable garden each year as well as, raising chickens and hogs. He played soccer in school and loved music. His music led him to the tuba and sousaphone which he played in high school and the Navy. It also led him to the Kalamazoo Men's Choir where he was a member of for many years. He was a volunteer at Delano Homestead in Kalamazoo in the sugar shack and Kalamazoo Nature Center as a rehabber of birds and small wildlife. 

Throughout his adult life he put his construction skills to good use building and rebuilding barns, out buildings, three homes and tapping trees for maple syrup. 

Dad will be sorely missed by his daughter Bettye Jo Howe Fields (Bob) and son Mark Warren Howe (Debi). three-step children: Karin Larsen Dubbles (Forrest), Chris Larsen (Mary) and Eric Larsen (Nancy); ten grand and step-grandchildren and many great and step-great grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Overisel Reformed Church; 4706 142nd Ave. Holland, MI, 49423. In lieu of flowers please consider donating a tree to be planted in his memory at a national forest at https://www.arborday.org/.

While visiting Emerson’s webpage at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family. 

The family is being assisted by Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home; 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell, MI 49080 (269-685-5881).