David "Skeeter" Lowe

David Jay “Skeeter” Lowe of Niles, Michigan; baker and cook, sports fan, and avid reader died unexpectedly at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana on his sixty-ninth birthday, Wednesday, August 2, 2023 following an accident while riding his bicycle.  His friends are grateful for the efforts of the medical staff.

He was born on August 2, 1954 in Niles to Warren E. and Barbara J. (Schaber) Lowe, and began his education at the Niles School District’s Eastside Elementary School.  He continued at Niles High School, and has lived in Niles all of his life.  Following in his father’s footsteps, he was employed as a baker in area bakeries including the former Echo Bakery in South Bend.

In addition to baking, Skeeter was well-known for his biscuits and gravy, and liked to fire-up the backyard grill for those aluminum foil packages of meat, rice or potatoes, and a variety of vegetables known as ‘Hobo Steak’.  He enjoyed watching televised sports events, especially soccer and one-on-one fighting sports such as boxing and various martial arts.  He was an avid reader, usually adventure and westerns, but also kept a considerable collection of classic Mad magazines, as well as collections of Bill Watterson’s comic strips, “Calvin & Hobbes”, of which Skeeter knew nearly every frame.

Like all of us, Skeeter made a few poor choices, but some of his choices led to intervals of being unemployable and stretches of homelessness.  More recently, friends had helped him to return to living in safe, long-term housing, and being a productive member of his community.  He worked with Daniel “Chopper” Baldwin to overhaul worn scooters to useful condition for sale through “C&S Sales”.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Warren Lowe on December 27, 1971 and Barbara Lowe on November 27, 2007; and by his brothers, Sergeant Gary E. Lowe, U.S.Army on May 29, 1982, and Randy P. Lowe on April 3, 2007.

Surviving family includes his sister, Joann (& Michael) Schneider of Niles; several nieces and nephews; and a close circle of wonderful friends.

Services are pending, and will be announced by the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles..  Online memories may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

For many, Skeeter was known as a simple man leading a simple life, but he persevered through many challenges, remaining philosophical and retaining a sense of humor, and he always appreciated the friends and companions who shared each station on his journey through life.