James Rowland Obituary

James Leonard Rowland of Moodus, CT. and formerly of Bradenton, FL. beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, received his promotion to glory on October 31, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family.
Born on May 6, 1937 in Dayton, OH. Jim lived a life marked by deep faith, love of family, and an unwavering devotion to serving others. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Rowland, his seven children, Alan Rowland, Pamela Stull, Sherry Barton, Ronni Sue Kelley, Amy Stevens, Stephen Rowland, Sarah Lombardo, stepdaughter Stacey Hathaway, a brother Robert Rowland, along with sixteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother Mary Conrad Rowland, father Leonard Rowland and sister Jeri Strickhausen.
A lifelong learner of God's Word, Jim was deeply involved in his church, where he served faithfully as a Sunday school teacher, music director, and shared his faith through a gospel quartet. His love for Scripture led him to earn two diplomas from Faith Bible Institute. He also had a heart for missions and once traveled to Surinam, South America, where he lived among the native people for several weeks alongside church missionaries.
Creativity and joy followed Jim wherever he went. He was an artist with a gift for painting and drawing, an actor who performed in many school plays, and was the driving force behind the Passion Play presented by Youth for Christ in Bradenton, Florida. He loved music, laughter, and whistling, often without any particular tune, simply because joy filled his heart.
Jim also loved the outdoors. He was scuba-certified, an avid diver, and a fisherman who found peace in the waters of the Florida Keys and the Gulf. Jim will be remembered for his faith, his laughter, his kindness, his artistry, and his never-ending curiosity about the world and the people in it. He never met a stranger and could fit effortlessly into any conversation. Those who knew him will forever hear his whistle and see his smile in the everyday moments he taught us to cherish. His life was a reflection of Christ's love in motion.
Though our hearts ache as we grieve his absence, we rejoice in knowing that Jim is home and that his faith has now become sight.
A memorial will be at a later date in Bradenton, FL.
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