Elon Stuart Howe, 95 of Newaygo, passed away on September 1, 2026.

Elon was born March 19, 1931, to parents Joeseph and Dorothy (Harris) Howe. He grew up as the fourth child of ten in Newaygo, Michigan, surrounded by his parents, siblings, and grandparents Florence and Claud Harris.

As a child, Elon was typically found outside playing with his siblings in the woodlands, gathering pine knots for their heating stove, tending the farm animals, or working in the family garden, all the while keeping a watchful eye out for planes flying over and when he heard one he would lay down in the grass on his back and watch the plane cross the sky. This fascination with planes at a very young age spurred him into joining the air force during the Korean War. While stationed at the Brigg Airforce Base in El Paso, Texas he worked on the B-36 Bombers as an engine mechanic. Later in life he earned his private, commercial, and instrument rating certification and licenses and loved flying his Cessna150. He was one of the original fire fighters of Big Prairie Township. He owned and operated Howe’s Garage, Howe’s Construction, and Wood’n Strings. He started his journey as luthier by gluing back together his father’s old, broken violin which he then learned to play by ear. Along the way he became a renown luthier garnering a wall full of international awards for his violins and other string instruments, including the coveted Bob Wallace Grand Champion award at the Violin Maker's Association of Arizona International (VMAAI). In his 95th year he was still building violins and working on his 105th violin. He felt very honored to have sold several of his violins into a private collection of the renowned violinist, Shoji Tabuchi of Branson, Missouri. Shoji purchased one of Elon’s violins specifically for playing on stage during his shows, and Elon was delighted to hear it played by a master violinist and seeing it played on stage. He enjoyed playing his own violins everywhere, and he took great pride in being a band member of the Pine Stump Savages Band in White Cloud, Michigan.

He married Mary “Evelyn” Westgate on November 20, 1952. He and Evelyn worked together for 29 years raising their five children. Elon and Evelyn are survived by their children: Jannifer (Patrick) Anderson, Barbra (Ronald) Leyder, Eldon (Tonya) Howe, Elon (Lori) Howe, Mary (Timothy) Jacobs, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his sister Daisy Howe Siminoff, sisters-in-laws: Gail Howe, Edna Westgate Wood, Ida Westgate Krueger, and brothers-in-laws Raymond (Carolyn) Westgate, Thomas (Sandy) Westgate, many nieces and nephews, a step-daughter Stephani (Joe) Potter. Preceding him in death was his grandson Daniel Howe, his second wife Londa (McGee) Flowers her daughter Shannon (Marty) Potter.

Elon passed away peacefully after a short stay at the Newaygo, County Compassion House, in Fremont, Michigan. Those wishing to honor his memory with a memorial contribution in lieu of flowers may donate in his name to the Newaygo County Compassion House, 20 S Stewart AvenueFremont MI 49412. A private service will be held at the Big Prairie Evert Cemetery, Newaygo, Michigan at a later time.

Arrangements were entrusted to Crandell Funeral Home, White Cloud Chapel.