Daniel "Dan" E. Sowers

Daniel E. Sowers, age 84, of Vernon Center, died Saturday, September 7, 2019 at Pathstone Living in Mankato.

Memorial Service 11:30 a.m., Friday, September 13, 2019 at Grace United Methodist Church, Vernon Center. Visitation will be from 10-11:30 a.m., Friday at the church. Private family interment will be in Vernon Center Cemetery. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Dan was born July 20, 1935 to R. Sumner and Cleo May (Sayre) Sowers in Mankato. He was baptized on May 17, 1936 and confirmed on May 25, 1947 both at Grace United Methodist Church.  He graduated from Garden City High School in 1953 and attended the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture for 2 years. He served in the National Guards. Dan married Harriet E. Becker on September 7, 1963 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Vernon Center. Dan worked on the family farm which was established in 1866, raising livestock and primarily row crops, and he was a member of NFO and Farmer’s Union. Dan had successful Vigortone and Renk Seed dealerships along with a grain roasting business.

Dan was a lifelong member of Grace United Methodist Church where he served on several church boards. He served as a Wellcome Memorial school board member and Wellcome Memorial Alumni Association member. Dan was a MN Fastpitch Hall of Fame Inductee. He played on fastpitch teams that won the State Tournament in 1968 and 1971 and coached state championship teams 20 years later. Dan helped build a church softball league in Willow Creek, Amboy, Garden City, and Vernon Center. He was a Ping-Pong Senior Olympics participant and belonged to many bowling leagues.  Dan and Harriet wintered in Apache Junction, Arizona for 12 years.

Dan is survived by his wife of 56 years, Harriet; three sons; Nathan (Joan) Sowers, Bryan (Deb) Sowers, and Jason (Nicole) Sowers; six grandchildren, Bryanna, Dyllan, Collyn, Allison, Isaac, and Jacob; two brothers and three sisters; David (Bettie) Sowers, Marilyn Vialle, Zada Belgard, James (Lucy) Sowers, and Julie (Tom) Keller; nieces, nephews, and cousins. Dan was preceded in death by his parents; Cleo and Sumner Sowers, in-laws; Elaine and Arlo Becker; sons, Mark and Darin; brother-in-law, Lee Belgard and sister-in-law, Dorothy “Dottie” Sowers.