Jon O. Nowlin
August 14, 2024
We are deeply saddened to share that Jon O. Nowlin of Carson City passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
His extraordinary life began in Eugene, OR in 1942. They moved to Michigan where Jon and his parents Ralph and Lucy Nowlin lived on a beautiful lake.
Jon met Janet E. Paepke in high school, and they married several years later in 1965, spending 59 loving years together. This was a busy year as Janet gave birth to their first son Mark J. Nowlin and Jon got a job with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as a hydrologist. Jon had attended Michigan State University where he got his geology/hydrology degree. Jon also served in the Navy Reserves and spent over 18 months in Vietnam in service to his country.
Jon and Janet gave birth to their 2nd son Scott R. Nowlin in 1970. In 1975 the family made the move across the country to Carson City, Nevada where he worked as a Hydrologist for the Utah/Nevada division, working his way up to being the Director of the Nevada Water Science Center at USGS until his retirement in 2000.
In retirement, he and Janet enjoyed time with their grandchildren Faith, Christina, Jonny, and Seth, all children of Scott and Joelyn Nowlin. Jon and Janet traveled extensively to visit family and went twice with the Men of Worth musical duo to both Scotland and Ireland with his son Mark and his wife Britt (Bridget). They spent time on Kauai with Janet’s sister Carol and her husband Rodger. One of Jon’s dreams was to see the birthing whales in Baja, CA and he made this dream come true in 2023 where he and Janet took Mark, Britt, Scott, Joelyn, Faith, Faith’s husband Edgar Loera, Christina and her friend Jenna, Jonny, and Seth on a National Geographic tour in Magdalena Bay, Mexico.
Jon also volunteered for the Trails West Emigrant Trail marking group (emigranttrailswest.org) and for the California-Nevada Chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association (https://www.canvocta.org/) where he was currently serving as chairman of the membership committee. He was proud of this work and cherished the many friends he made at these organizations, at the USGS, and elsewhere.
While we’re following his wishes to not hold a ceremony, we know that so many people were impacted by his life of generous love, hard work, service to others, friendship, and dedication -- so, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jon’s name to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the Oregon-California Trails Association, or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Jon would also have encouraged you to join these or other organizations to serve your neighbors and community.
Besides his wife, 2 sons and daughters-in-law, and 4 grandchildren, Jon is survived by his brother Lee and his partner Barbara, and numerous other family members.