Dean "Skip" Mcdowell

Hastings Funeral Home in Perry is in charge of arrangements for Dean "Skip" McDowell, 80, of Perry. Dean died at his winter home in Mesa, Arizona February 14, 2015. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 23, 2015 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Visitation will be after 1:00 p.m. Sunday with family present from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A public Masonic Service will be held at 6:00 p.m. following the visitation. Dean Arnold McDowell "Skip", son of Chester McDowell and Ida Paulsen McDowell, was born January 23, 1935 on a farm near Jamaica, Iowa and died February 14, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona at the age of 80. Dean grew up in Cooper, Iowa and farmed with his dad. On October 24, 1954 Dean married Marilyn Wood and they were blessed with two daughters Debbie and Tammy. The family lived on a farm. On August 31, 1964 Dean and Betty Jean Thompson Kurtti were united in marriage. They lived in Jefferson and became parents to four more daughters Kim, Barbara, Susan and Deana. In 1969 the family moved to Perry where they continued to farm and sell chemicals and fertilizers. Dean was a member of the Otley Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed playing cards, camping and watching Westerns with John Wayne in them especially. Dean loved spending time with his family and going to all the grandkids activities like dance recitals. For 18 years Dean and Betty have wintered in Arizona. Along with farming he sold fertilizer and chemicals for several companies for over 20 years. Dean took his last crop out in 2014 and had plans to farm this year. Dean was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Kim Kurtti, brothers Kenneth & Donald McDowell, sister-in-law Nancy Anderson, and parents-in-law Warren and Aletha Thompson. Dean is survived by his wife Betty Jean McDowell of Perry, daughters Debbie McDowell of Ankeny, IA; Tammy Wirtz (Jeff) of Ogden, IA; Barbara Hawbaker (Tony) of Grimes, IA; Susan Norris (Howard) of Grimes, IA and Deana Lowe (Jeremy) of Des Moines, IA; seven grandchildren: Amber Hawbaker, Shannon Wirtz, Samantha Wirtz, Matthew Norris, Jessica Norris, Emily Lowe, Maci Lowe, brothers-in-law George Thompson (JoAnn) of Lincoln, NE and Clifford Thompson (Madeline) of Boone, IA; sister-in-law Donna Thompson of Paton, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Memorials are suggested to be sent to The American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association or Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.