Trudy Dowlin

TRUDY R. DOWLIN, 64, Sterling, was born on Feb. 9, 1944, in Portland, Ore., and died of natural causes on Mon., Feb. 11, 2008, at Northern Colorado Health Center in Greeley.A memorial service celebrating her life and impact on this area will be held on Sat., Feb. 16, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Sterling followed by a luncheon.In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to bring a written remembrance of Trudy to be collected at the door for her family. Time will be allowed for public sharing of memories.A memorial service celebrating her life will also be held in Mankato, Minn., at a later date this spring.Memorials in Mrs. Dowlin’s’ honor may be made to the Trudy Dowlin Memorial Music Fund, c/o 210 Beattie St., Sterling, Colo. 80751. Proceeds will benefit perpetuating music in Sterling.Trudy was raised in Waseca, Minn., where she graduated from high school in 1962. After graduating from Mankato State College in Minnesota in 1966, she taught in Stevens Point, Wis., for two years before moving to Sterling where she taught until her retirement in 2006.She was a long-time educator and musician, having taught for 38 years in Sterling schools in the RE-1 Valley School District and serving as an organist at several churches, most recently the Peace Lutheran Church.Trudy was preceded in death by her parents: father Okal in 1946 and mother Clarabelle, who lived with her daughter for five years until her death 2005; stepfather, Lester Pischner; one brother, Robert Dowlin in 2006; and her former husband, Frank Slater of Sterling, to whom she was married for 10 years and remained friends. She is survived by one brother: Bruce Dowlin and wife Sheryl of Boise, Idaho; and his family: Trudy’s nephew, Bruce Dowlin Young and family, and her niece Johnette Amado and family, all of Tennessee; cousins and relatives in Minnesota; cousins Becky Bissen and Wayne Ronne; and two generations of former students, piano pupils, church members of various churches, fellow teachers and music lovers of all ages.