While attending UW-River Falls, Stower was active in United Methodist youth, campus politics, and social justice issues across the United States, including participating in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march with Martin Luther King Jr., beginning a lifelong commitment to working for civil rights.
After teaching English at Prescott, Clayton, and Nicolet High Schools, Stower attended Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., to pursue his dream of becoming an ordained United Methodist minister.
He was ordained in 1977 before he and his wife, Marilyn, moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he served as a minister at Kenwood United Methodist Church for several years.
[3][4][5] His visionary leadership focused on developing the riverfront in Amery, downtown revitalization, economic growth, creating a thriving arts center, and improving the city's infrastructure through improved facilities for the airport, hospital, library, and food pantry.
He also received numerous awards for his work on issues regarding human services, environmental protections, the arts, and veterans programs.