Lowe was risk taker, pioneer

Post date: Mar 19, 2009 3:2:54 AM

By TODD GOTTULA , Hub Staff Writer, 3-18-09, Kearney HUB on line at: http://www.kearneyhub.com ["Shot" John Lowe III Of Kearney & Mallard Beach south Bay] KEARNEY — Shot Lowe loved money — earning it, growing it and especially holding onto it. In fact, he often shared an old saying his father taught him years ago: “Don’t use ‘just’ and ‘money’ in the same sentence,” Shot repeatedly told his buddies.“He said that all the time,” recalled Al Oldfather, Shot’s longtime fishing buddy. “Shot always had an eye on his money. He didn’t spend it freely and was conservative with it.”Lowe’s grandfather owned a Kearney bank in the 1930s, and his father operated a small loan and lending company that evolved into Lowe Investments, the Kearney real estate investment and property management firm the family operates.“Shot was a solid businessmen who came from an old English family that was very family oriented,” Oldfather said. “He was a very active, people-oriented person and as outgoing as any man you’ll come across.”

John “Shot” Lowe III died Tuesday at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was 77.

Lowe spent the winter in New Zealand, where he and his wife, Andrea, owned a home and has vacationed for many years. He returned to Kearney about two weeks ago after he started feeling ill, his son Tim said.

“Shot was an outstanding personality who provided the community with so much leadership for so many years,” said friend Eldon Chamberlain. “He was always concerned about what was going on in town. He did his share and more, and he is really going to be missed.”

Lowe was a longtime land developer, real estate investor and property manager in Kearney and one of the city’s most recognized businessmen.

“Shot contributed in about every way possible to this community. He was a pioneer and leader in so many ways,” said longtime friend Wayne McKinney. “Kearney has suffered a great loss. Shot loved everybody, and everybody loved him. He was one of the funniest, most personable individuals this community has known.”

After serving the U.S. Army in Korea from 1953-55, Lowe began his professional career by selling insurance and real estate. He developed East Lawn Mobile Home Estates with business partner Jim Bamford in 1970, and he was a big supporter of downtown Kearney, where he owned numerous buildings that housed retail stores and apartments.

“Dad was willing to take risks. As a businessman, that’s what I’ll remember most,” Tim Lowe said. “When everybody else was being conservative, he was out there getting things done and taking chances.

“When everybody else took chances, he stepped back and avoided the risks,” Tim Lowe added. “That’s one of the things that made him so successful in real estate.”

Lowe was an active member of the community who served on numerous boards, including the Buffalo County Board of Supervisors for 10 years.

His other community involvement included: Rob Morris Lodge, Scottish Rite Masons, Tehama Shrine Temple, Fort Kearney Shrine Club, Tehama Clowns, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Kearney Elks Lodge, Gateway Farm Expo, Nebraska State College Board of Trustees and Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association.

Other survivors include his sons, John and Andrew, both of Kearney, and daughter, Hannah Stone of Kearney.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Burial with military honors will be at Kearney Cemetery. O’Brien-Straatmann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.