Donald Eugene Dowd

Funeral Services for Donald Dowd, will be held at 2pm on Friday, November 17th, at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church and Cemetery.  Reverend Matt Griggs will officiate.  Interment will be at Freeborn Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to service at the church. Military Honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Veteran’s Organization.   

Donald Eugene Dowd, 88, Father, Grand Father, Great-Grand Father, and friend to many, passed away on Saturday November 4th, 2023 surrounded by family.  Don was the son of Harvey and Henrietta Dowd, born October 25, 1935 in Lake Mills Iowa. He was the youngest of 4 siblings.  Don is a graduate of McGregor High School, McGregor MN.  After graduating, he married and started his 20-year military career, enlisting in the United States Marine Corp in California. During Don’s time in the Corp, he traveled overseas to Japan and Okinawa.  The first of his four children was born in California.  The family moved to Albert Lea where the other 3 children were born and raised.  Don worked at Wilson Foods/Farmstead in Albert Lea.  He was always busy and a hard worker, working odd jobs like laying sod in the summers. Don was also an active member of the Lutheran Church community. He kept his dancing on wheels roller skating alive from his youth by volunteering with church youth groups to local rinks.   Don did all of this while finishing his military career in the Army National Guard 135th Infantry where he was honorably discharged. His stint in the Guards included training in Norway.  Once retired, Don spent time collecting donations for the Veteran’s Home in Hastings. 

Don always made time for some fun. He loved his trips to Branson, MO. He enjoyed deer hunting and bowling in the winters on leagues.  He married Marge Olson where they enjoyed cabin life and fishing.  These times were shared with family and friends. Don and Marge were the first tenants of the new Village Coop in Albert Lea, where they called home.   Oh, he always had his fair share of stories to tell!  Don will be remembered for his quick wit and a sweet tooth that must be satisfied. 

Donald is survived by his children:  Debbie (Larry) Bergeson, Diane (Jim) Anderson, Dwight Dowd, and Denise (Drake) Dietz.   Grandchildren:  Jennifer (Phil) Schmidt, Will (Nikki) Anderson, Dyllan (Andrea) Dietz, Devin (Madison) Dietz, and Lance Anderson.   Great Grandchildren: Lawson Schmidt, Mia Anderson, Dean Anderson, Joel Anderson, and Luna Dietz.  Also: members of The Olson Family, extended family, and friends.

Don is proceeded in death by his parents Harvey and Henrietta, sister Beulah Martinson Randall, brothers Robert and Stanley Dowd, spouse Marge (Olson) Dowd, and brothers & sisters-in-law Hubert Martinson, Mac Randall, Mary Dowd, and Wanda Dowd. 

The family would like to Thank the staff at Cedars of Austin memory care unit.  You are very special individuals to care for those in the memory care unit.  Your kindness was felt by our father and by the family helping us through the transitions of Dementia. 



The service will be live streamed on Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home's facebook page using the following link:

https://fb.me/e/1nyO90Xji