John Paul Dow Sr., 80, of Grain Valley, Missouri passed away on Friday, December 13, 2024. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 19, 2024 at Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, Missouri. Burial will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 23, 2024 in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, Missouri. Contributions can be made to: American Bouvier Rescue League- abrl.org or the Wounded Warrior Project- woundedwarriorproject.org
John was born November 2, 1944 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The son of Raymond and Monica Dow. John was the love of my life, the best stad to Missouri Jane, passed away December 13, 2024 with his wife, Sam by his side. He was so proud of his service in the Army during the Vietnam war. He was a master marksman and a communications officer and taught cover and deception. John was always my hero. His path ultimately led him to get his Pilots License and ultimately ended up in the FAA as an Icing Expert. This led him to live 6 years of his life overseas from all of his travels. John also was a Certified Professional Photographer. His work ranged from fine art prints to making memory books for the Grain Valley bands and winter guard while Missouri was in high school. He was also an incredible chef. Anyone who enjoyed his cooking will miss his famous ribs and fresh meatballs. John’s favorite recreational activity was with the Kansas City Jeep Club. He loved wheeling in the Dakotas and Utah with the club.
John is survived by his wife, Sandra and his step-daughter, Missouri Dehann; his daughter, Rachel; son, Paul Jr (Kristen) and their children: Analiece, Elenor and Theodore; his older brother, Raymond and his wife, Judith; and many relatives on the east coast, especially his cousins, Genavive Giuffrida and Paula Peabody.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home Grain Valley, MO 64075 816-847-4441
Wagdi Habashi
18 Dec 2024Dear Sam:
It is with great sadness that I have learned through Klaus of John’s sudden departure.
Having gone through similar circumstances, I can only imagine the grief you must be feeling.
I am only comforted by the thought that I met John, got to know him well, hit it off with him, became partners in many unique projects, traveled extensively with him, and achieved joint international successes that we could not have done singlehandedly.
May he be granted eternal peace, and may your grief be tempered by the many sweet memories you had together.
Professor Wagdi Habashi, Montreal, Canada
Milt and Sherry Clark
19 Dec 2024Our dearest Sam, Our heart is saddened by the news of your loss. Milt and I send you all of our love during this difficult time. You will be in our thoughts and prayers as you go through each and every day remembering John.
Bruce Bennard
5 Mar 2025Hello Sam: A very belated condolence message to you and yours. I found out about John’s passing just yesterday via a message sent to 1962 Auburn HS classmates of which John and I were. He and I shared 3 or 4 years of classes together as well as two years on the football field. I moved to Auburn from Long Island during my freshman year and John was among the first classmates to welcome me and to make me feel comfortable in my new surroundings. I was not too pleased to have left my friends and surroundings in New York and I recognized then, as I do now, how John’s decency helped me with my transition to my new home. I only played football in my junior and senior years and John and I were close teammates – second stringers on a very good junior team and starters on a not so good senior team. We were fellow 160-170 pound lineman (ouch!) who usually got pushed around, but we played hard and John, I think, loved the game more than any of the rest of we “Auburn Dandies.” We both moved on after graduation, John went off to Worcester Tech I think and I to the University of Massachusetts never to see each other again (My parents moved to California in my freshman year, so I rarely if ever returned to Auburn).) I want to finish by saying what I most remember about John was his great warmth and good humor, and he will always remain to me as awonderful teenage boy about to find his place in the world and a host of people who would love and honor him. (I should say, I saw the John I knew in the picture posted at this site.) Again, I am sorry for your loss as are your close family members, but I know that you know how blessed you are to have shared so much of your lives together.
Bruce Bennard class of 62 Auburn High School now in Asheville, NC