Lew A. Dowler
Lew A. Dowler, 88, of Fond du Lac, met his Heavenly Father on Saturday, January 19, 2013, at Grancare Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Fond du Lac.
He was born on December 5, 1924, in Birch Tree, Missouri.
Lew served in the 82nd airborne division of the United States Army from 1943 to 1945. During his service as a paratrooper in World War II, Lew showed heroic efforts by rescuing his fellow soldiers, who were in enemy territory.
Upon his return from the war, Lew pitched for the Fond du Lac Panthers, which was a farm team for the New York Yankees.
On November 8, 1946, Lew married Arleen K. Glasow at the parsonage of St. Peter’s Lutheran church in Fond du Lac by the Rev. Gerhard Pieper.
Lew was previously employed at Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac and retired from Tecumseh Products of New Holstein after 23 years of service.
He was a long-time member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac. Besides spending time with his family, Lew enjoyed playing baseball, horseshoe, fishing, golfing, camping, and traveling.
He is survived by his wife, Arleen Dowler; two daughters: Caren (Richard) Gantner of Fond du Lac, and Debra (Bruce) Klintworth of Kansas City, Missouri; grandchildren: Brian Gantner of Fond du Lac, Eric (Amy) Klintworth of Lawson, Missouri, Kara Pennington (Blaine) of Belton, Missouri, and Tammy (Michael) Bernhard of Theresa, Wisconsin; great-grandchildren: Zackary and Kyler Klintworth, Samantha and Sabrina Bernhard, and Alexandra Pennington; brothers: Donald (Fran) Dowler of Fair Play, Missouri, and Dow Dowler of Fond du Lac. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert.
Per Lew’s wishes, a private service will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, with Rev. Brett Naumann officiating. Burial will be in Rienzi Cemetery.
The family would like to extend their sincerest thanks to the staff at Grancare Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for their compassionate care of Lew throughout his stay at Grancare and especially during his final days.
Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family, www.machfuneralchapel.com.