Robert McDowell

HAMPTON - Robert McDowell, 88, of Hampton died Saturday (May 10, 2008) at the Hampton Health Care Center following 11½ years with Alzheimer's disease. For 11 of those years, he was cared for at home by his wife Grace.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 16, 2008, at West Fork United Methodist Church with Elsa Lawry presiding. Interment will be at Hampton Cemetery with veteran's honors.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, Sheffield.

Robert Avery McDowell was born Aug. 15, 1919, on the family farm, rural Hampton, a son of Kenneth and Irma (Ellis) McDowell. He attended country school through the eighth grade then graduated from Hampton High School in 1937 and received the scholarship key. He attended Grinnell College, Iowa State College and Drake University.

Bob spent four years in the U.S. Army Infantry between 1941 and 1945. He served in the 7th Infantry Division in the South Pacific. He fought in the hardest battles of World War II. He helped take the surrender of the Japanese on Okinawa in August of 1945.

Bob met Grace Bridge in February of 1946 at the Tromar Ballroom in Des Moines. They were married Nov. 2, 1946, at the Bondurant Federated Church.

Bob was a farmer all his life; in 1982 his family farm became a Century Farm. His family knew a man could not do much better than to leave his piece of land better than when he found it.

Bob was a long-time member of the Grinnell Insurance Board, and West Fork Township Trustee. He was a member of the Dumont American Legion. The West Fork United Methodist Church was Bob's church of choice.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 61 years, Grace; three sons: Bruce W. (Anne) McDowell, Newport Beach, Calif., Alan E. McDowell PhD., Fairfield, Ohio, and Mark A. (Connie) McDowell, Hampton; four grandchildren: Andrew McDowell, Melinda McDowell, Kim (Vince) Feck and Scott McDowell; four great-grandchildren; one sister: Shirley From, of Iowa City.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Marjorie Siegman.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa, Hampton or to the family c/o Mark McDowell 2032 200th St. Hampton, IA 50441, to be distributed at the family's discretion.

Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, 641-892-4241.