Gerald "Jerry" Dowe

1940 - 2025

Gerald 'Jerry' Dowe
Born: January 8, 1940
Died: November 5, 2025
Gerald "Jerry" Dowe, age 85, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2025, at his home in McHenry, Illinois.
He was born to Charles J. and Genevieve (Young) Dowe on January 8, 1940, in Woodstock, Illinois. Jerry married Janet Glosson on February 11, 1961.
A lifelong resident of McHenry, Jerry attended St. Mary Grade School and McHenry High School. He grew up with a strong work ethic, a foundation of faith, and a love for craftsmanship that guided him throughout his life. Before school each morning, Jerry and his brother Gene cleaned the McHenry Movie Theater. In high school he was an excellent saxophone player and proudly showcased his skills on the Morris B. Sax Amateur Hour where their quartet took second place.
He worked for many of McHenry's finest local businesses such as Overton's, Schroeder Ironworks, and the Adams Brothers. His love of fast cars and drag racing was well known and he never turned down a friendly challenge.
Jerry proudly served his country in the United States Navy as a Seabee. He loved sharing stories from his service, especially his time in Cuba during the Missile Crisis and his marksmanship record. He was a 49-year member of the American Legion and NRA.
After returning home, Jerry built a successful career as a skilled carpenter, working for Tonyan Construction and Power Construction. He was the kind of man who could fix just about anything and was always the first-person family, friends, and neighbors called when something needed repair.
A devoted husband and father, Jerry often worked two or even three jobs so his wife, Janet, could stay home with their young daughters. Together, Jerry and Janet, along with Bill Sheehan and Fran Larsen, were founding members of the McHenry Pigtail League.
After Janet's passing, Jerry married Carolyn Farrington. They shared 28 years together enjoying fishing, stock car races, flea markets and gardening where they won several awards at the McHenry County Fair. Following retirement, he continued to share his time and talents by working part-time at Montini Primary Center, where his master carpentry skills were greatly appreciated by staff and students alike.
Jerry's greatest joy in life was being a devoted daddy to his daughters and "Gank" or "Papa" to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His steady hands and generous heart built more than just structures – they built a legacy of love, service, and craftsmanship that will endure for generations.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Carolyn; daughters, Julie (Tim) Sherwood and JerriLynn (Randy) Welch; grandchildren, Samantha (Casey) Anderson, Marley (Chris) Gierl, Mike Sherwood, Kayla (Zach) Shannon, and Cody (Sanjana Chintalapudi) Welch; and great-grandchildren, Cameron, Parker, and Timmy Anderson; Evie, Hank, and Leo Gierl; and Jameson, Jaxon, J.R., Ava, and Chloe Shannon. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Lilia Dowe; and many dear nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his first wife, Janet; his parents; his sister Charlene Kraus; brothers Eugene and Thomas Dowe; nieces Kerry Kraus Blasinski, Tonya Dowe, Denise Dowe, and Kim (Hay) Peroni; and sisters-in-law Madgalene Dowe and Karen Hay.
Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday, November 10, 2025, at Colonial Funeral Home, 591 Ridgeview Drive, McHenry, IL 60050. A continued visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Colonial Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Funeral Mass will follow at St. Mary Catholic Church in McHenry with burial to follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery.
For those wishing to send an expression of condolence, the family suggests memorials be made to JourneyCare Hospice, 405 Lake Zurich Rd, Barrington, IL 60010 or St. Mary Catholic Church, 1407 N. Richmond Rd, McHenry, IL 60050.