Obituary of Luana June Tower

Luana June (Birch) Tower 93, of Minnetonka, MN peacefully passed away in her home surrounded by her family on October 14, 2023.  Luana was born on June 4, 1930 to Drew and Emma Birch in Pipestone, MN.  After Luana graduated from Pipestone High School in 1948, she went on to Business College in Minneapolis.

While at school in Minneapolis she was reacquainted with her husband Chad Tower. Luana and Chad were married in 1951 for 72 years. The joys of her life came to be her 5 boys; Steven (Rusty), Scott, Chris, Kelly and Patrick.  Mom always said, “I’m the luckiest woman in the world to be surrounded by 6 wonderful men.”  

Everybody knew Luana as “Lu”.  Lu’s main inspiration in life was raising a household of very active boys. She was so proud of her Boy Scouts, baseball, football, soccer, and hockey players and skiers.  She was always behind the dugout, in the stands supporting and cheering them on. When not attending to her boys, Luana enjoyed singing with the Symphanoles, golfing, bowling and bridge. But Lu’s true gift was in her gardening.  She was forever tending to her flower gardens while her boys pulled weeds.  Her gardens were a true showcase and admired by all. When she was not gardening Lu was a master at quilting and cross stitch. Her home is adorned with her amazing quilts and framed cross-stitching.  She had a true love for birds and this love can be viewed in most of her works of art.

Luana and Chad together enjoyed golfing and found a winter home at the Hideaway Golf Course in Fort Myers, Fl for 36 years.  She loved Fort Myers for the warmth not only from the sun, but the friends she made from all over the United States and Canada. 

Luana is survived by her husband Chad; sister Beverly Downey of Painesville; sons Rusty of Minnetonka, Scott (Penny) of Richfield, Chris (Betsy) of Bemidji, Kelly (Hang) of Savage, Patrick of Minnetonka; grandchildren Sarah, Anne, Chad, Hannah, Natalie, and Jordan; great grandchildren Owen, Olivia, Caleb and Nora. She was preceded in death by her parents Drew and Emma Birch, brothers Ronald, Roger and her sister Marsha.

A celebration of life will take place in the next few weeks.  In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations made to the Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society in honor for her love of birds.