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1925 Paul 2019

Paul Roschi Stowell

June 26, 1925 — November 28, 2019

Paul Roschi Stowell passed away at his home in Logan on November 28, 2019, surrounded by his loving wife, Lorelie, and their four living children. A beloved pediatrician who practiced in Logan for almost 40 years, Paul was known for his skill, gentleness, and untiring devotion to his patients, family, the gospel he loved, and the nation he proudly served during World War II.

Born in Rexburg, Idaho, on June 26, 1925, Paul was the youngest of seven children of David William Stowell and Elizabeth Roschi Stowell. His childhood was filled with hard work at school and home, including music lessons, but there was time for teenage adventures in Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, and the Snake River. These adventures often involved fishing with his father and skiing with his favorite cousin, Douglas Kerr. Well into his 90’s, Paul recalled these activities with precision and humor.

Immediately after graduation from Madison County High School in 1943, Paul joined the U.S. Army, and his carefree teenage days were over. He spent the fall of that year in rugged basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. From there, he was selected for an officer training program and was sent to Wheaton, Illinois, for accelerated college courses. The program was cut short when more men were needed in the South Pacific. On October 20, 1944, at age 19, Paul was on a troop ship as part of the 96th Infantry Division bound for the grueling invasion of Leyte in the Philippines. He served in heavy combat for several months. As an infantry scout, Paul was often the first in line during combat patrols seeking out the enemy. He later landed at Okinawa on April 1, 1945, where the 96th Infantry endured the highest casualty rate of any of the army divisions. He served in the Army for almost 3 years, earning the Bronze Star for combat service. His final post was in Japan where he was assigned to keep peace and guard the ancient shrines in Kyoto.

Upon his return to the U.S., Paul enrolled at Ricks College and served as student-body president. In 1948, Paul was called to serve in Texas and Louisiana as an LDS missionary where he acted as secretary and counselor to the mission president. Paul returned to Idaho in 1950 and dated Lorelie Strong who was from nearby Sugar City and was a music major at Ricks. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on March 20, 1950.

After completing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Utah in 1952, Paul journeyed east with his wife and baby daughter Launa Lee to attend medical school at Yale University. David and Shellie were born in New Haven, and the young family lived in a small prefabricated tin-roofed home next to Yale for four years. Lorelie chased children while Paul put in long hours of study and worked in the labs.

Paul completed his residency training in pediatrics at the Salt Lake County Hospital from 1956-58, and a son, Douglas, was born during this time. Paul began his pediatric practice at the Budge Clinic in Logan in 1958 and was soon seeing up to 25 patients a day. One patient recalled, “I liked getting my shots from him. He would tell me to say “hippopotamus,” and by the time I said it, the shot was over and it never hurt.” Marci was born in Logan in 1960.

In 1963, Paul supervised the first mass polio vaccination effort in Cache County, helping to eradicate polio in the area. He served on both the Cache County and Utah State medical boards. His desk was always stacked with the latest journals on advances in pediatric medicine, and his files were filled with careful notes of calls made to patients and their parents.

Paul served as bishop of the 24th Ward (now Lundstrom Park 3rd Ward) in Logan and oversaw construction of the “new” chapel on 1600 East in the early 1970s. During the following 20 years, he continued his busy medical practice and happily watched children go on missions, get married, and complete their educations. He served as the doctor for a couple of international student trips that his children participated in, taught gospel doctrine classes, and enjoyed many social gatherings with a wide group of friends with whom Paul and Lorelie associated. He served as president of the Logan Hospital staff, president of Cache Valley Medical Society, and was a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatricians.

Paul loved to fish, sometimes found time to golf, and taught all his children to ski. Family trips to Lake Powell, Grand Targhee, Beaver Mountain, Alta, and Bear Lake are especially fond memories for the entire family.

Following retirement, Paul and Lorelie served a mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City and then served for six years as officiators in the Logan Temple. Paul’s study and understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ was foundational in his life, and he shared his beliefs as a teacher, friend, and most importantly as a father and grandfather, becoming a quiet anchor of kindness and strength to many.

Paul is survived by Lorelie, his wife of almost 70 years, and children: David (Janet) of Park City, UT, Shellie (Jim) Christensen of Chino, CA, Doug (Tana) of Salt Lake City, UT, and Marci (Eric) Hunsaker of Los Gatos, CA. He is also survived by 18 loving grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren who were all treated to his spot-on Donald Duck voice impersonation, memorable renditions of Army marching songs, and his infamous train whistle. Paul was preceded in death by his eldest daughter, Launa Lee Jensen, and grandson Bryan Boyd. Paul’s family offers gratitude to Ben Stowell, a grandson, and IHC Hospice, who made it possible for Paul to spend his final days in the home that he and Lorelie built in 1963.

A public visitation will take place Friday, December 6, 2019 at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center St. in Logan, from 6-8 pm.
Funeral Services will take place Saturday, December 7, 2019 beginning at 11:00 am at the Lundstrom Park Chapel, 1260 North 1600 East in Logan, with a visitation prior from 9:30 – 10:30 am.
Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery immediately following the funeral services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Primary Children’s Hospital
(through the Intermountain Foundation)
https://intermountainhealthcare.org/giving-volunteering/intermountain-foundation/
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Paul Roschi Stowell, please visit our flower store.

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