Richard Lowery

Richard Dale Lowery, age 71, of Menomonie, WI passed away Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 at the Neighbors of Dunn County, with his loving wife Cheryl by his side. Dick was born on Oct. 26, 1942 to Walter Coyle and Inez (Latimer) Lowery in Parsons, Kansas. He grew up in Roxana, Illinois and graduated from Roxana High School. He attended Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1964 and his Master of Science degree in 1965. He moved to Wisconsin and was employed at U.W. River Falls from 1965 to 1968. He worked with many students as a residence hall director, and also in the Counseling Center. He moved to Menomonie in 1968, where he was employed at U.W. Stout for 34 years. He was the Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions for 29 years and the Coordinator of the Graduate School for five years. Growing up near St. Louis, Missouri he became very interested in sports. He was a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, enjoying attending games or listening to them on the radio with his brother Rog. Dick married Cheryl Fadum on Aug. 16, 1969 in Menomonie and they had two daughters, Erin and Becca. He was a loving and devoted husband and father, always attending his children's activities and events. He was the official scorer for the U.W. Stout men's and women's basketball teams. He was also the voice of Blue Devil soccer, a member of the football chain gang, a Blue Devil booster, and a member of the U.W. Stout Hall of Fame Committee. He thoroughly enjoyed years of broadcasting high school and Stout football and basketball games. Road trips were extremely fun when "Jay, Jake and Dick" traveled to games. Dick enjoyed providing color commentary and statistics. Cheryl enjoyed listening, to see where they ate their meals on the road. Dick was inducted into the Stout Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. Dick was instrumental in developing the church softball league in 1976, and received a special award in 1988 for his work and involvement. He enjoyed coaching for Christ Lutheran for many years. He enjoyed his time on the Menomonie City Council and acted as president. Other community involvement included Mabel Tainter Memorial Board of Directors, Christ Lutheran Church Council, Luther Park Bible Camp Board of Directors, Thrivent Board member and a mediator for Dunn County small claims court. Active in the Menomonie Kiwanis Club for many years, he was the Governor of Kiwanis – Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. He and Cheryl enjoyed the many friendships they made, and attended the Kiwanis International Conventions in Montreal, Honolulu, Miami, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, San Antonio and many others. They also acted as chaperones at the Key Club and Circle K (Kiwanis Youth Organizations) conventions in Boston. Family vacations were trips to Illinois and later Wilmington, NC to spend time with Dick's parents and brother. Many weekends were spent at Solon Springs at Cheryl's parents' cabin or in Duluth at their home. Dick suffered a severe stroke in October of 2006 and after five months of rehabilitation was able to come home. He developed some of Cheryl's "Finnish Sisu" (determination, courage and persistence) by osmosis. He was diligent with physical therapy with Cheryl, and speech therapy with Cheryl's mom, who came from Duluth for a week each month. Additional complications forced him to move to the Dunn County Health Care Center, where he lived for over five years. He was blessed to see relatives visit often, and his big smile greeted Erin and Becca and the grandchildren and of course other relatives and friends. Dick is survived by his wife Cheryl; daughter Erin Lowery-Corkran (Ken Corkran) of Northbridge, MA; daughter Becca (Greg) Nisius of Duluth, MN; grandchildren, Blake and Wyatt Nisius and Annika and Brooks Corkran; his brother Roger (Patricia) Lowery of Wilmington, NC; Cheryl's sister, Tammy (Eric) Saksa of Duluth; Cheryl's brother, Brent (Luann) Fadum of Duluth; nieces and nephews, Anja and Anders Saksa, Uriah, Fionna and Yulea Fadum, Nikki Gislason, Brice Hendrickson, Pam Richman and Rob Morrison. He was preceded in death by his parents, Inez and Coyle Lowery; Cheryl's parents, Aune and Julius Fadum; aunts, uncles and cousins. Special thanks to the entire staff and caregivers who treated Dick with loving kindness and respect at the Neighbors of Dunn County. "Blessed be this child of God." The family suggests memorials to Christ Lutheran Church or charity of donor's choice. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 27, 2014 at Christ Lutheran Church in Menomonie, with Pastor Geoff Scott officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie and at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Burial will be in Christ Lutheran Halvorson Cemetery in Menomonie.