Russell W. McDowell

Russell Walter McDowell, 65, of New Holland, went to be with the Lord on Feb. 25, 2008 at his home.

Russ was born on Oct. 5, 1942, the son of the late Loren E. and Irma Elmore McDowell of Salem. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Jan Koch McDowell; a son, Gerald Russell McDowell, husband of Jennifer Hostetter McDowell, of Brownstown; grandson Brent Russell McDowell; one uncle, Gene Elmore, Mt. Pleasant; one aunt, Marge Smith, of Salem, and many cousins.

Russ was a 1960 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. He and his father owned and operated a trucking operation. He later graduated from Indiana Wesleyan College in Marion, Ind. Russ was a pastor of churches in Oklahoma and Colorado before moving back to Iowa and returning to agriculture in 1976. He was a feed salesman for Yoder Feeds for several years, a livestock buyer and helped operate Wayland Livestock Auction before moving to Holmes County, Ohio to serve as a sales manager for a livestock feed company. Russ graduated from the Reich Auction School and was an auctioneer, conducting many household, estate, and livestock sales in Southeast Iowa. He also served his hometown of Salem as mayor for a number of years. Russ coached Little League Baseball for many years. He also umpired high school baseball and played softball for 25 years. Hunting for pheasant and quail on his Iowa farm was something he also enjoyed.

After moving to Pennsylvania, Russ was the parts manager for ABC Groff in New Holland for 10 years, retiring in 1993.

Russ was a member of New Holland Church of the Nazarene and hosted small group in his home. He loved watching college basketball, football, and professional baseball.

A viewing will be held at New Holland Church of the Nazarene, 428 Ranck Rd., New Holland from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday. His funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 29, at the church, with Pastor Ken Mingledorff officiating. Burial will be at Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Barclay College, 607 North Kingman, Haviland, KS 67059. The Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be directed to our website, www.groffeckenroth.com.