McDOWELL, Amanda 1881-1934

MCDOWELL, SCHWALBE, RONNEBERGER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/8/2016 at 14:40:36

Mrs. W. O. McDowell Died at Her Home Sunday Morning

Mrs. W. O. McDowell died at her home in Grundy Center at an early hour Sunday morning following an illness from cancer which covered a period of four months. Hundreds of messages of sympathy were extended to the bereaved family after the death message had been passed about the town and community. Large groups of sympathetic friends called at the home on Monday and Tuesday forenoon to leave their message of condolence.

Funeral services were held at the home at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. L. P. Krome, an old friend of the family and a former pastor of the Presbyterian church in Grundy Center. Burial was in the Grundy Center cemetery.

The following obituary and personal tribute to the life and character of Mrs. McDowell was prepared by Rev. Krome and read at the funeral service.

Amanda Schwalbe McDowell, daughter of William and Charlotte Schwalbe, was born at Hartford, Wis., Aug. 25, 1881. She was one of a family of seven children, six of whom survive, namely: Augusta, now Mrs. William Leichtfuss, of Milwaukee, Wis.; a brother, William, of Milwaukee; George, of Hartford, Wis.; Mrs. Anna Young, of Vancouver, B.C.; Charlotte, now Mrs. R. J. Hood, of Benton Harbor, Mich., and Ernest, of Milwaukee.

She spent the early years of her life at Hartford, later at Milwaukee. On Sept. 19, 1903, she was joined in marriage to Otto Ronneberger, who departed this life in June of the following year.

September 19, 1912, she was united in marriage to Dr. W. O. McDowell at Grundy Center. To this union there was born a son, Robert, who became thus the youngest and cherished member of the charmed circle, already beautified by the mutual love of husband, wife, daughter, and two sons, Harriette, William and James.

Mrs. McDowell was an "elect lady" of high character and delightful personality. Her home life was marked by entire faithfulness and devotion to the interest of her family. She was a good Christian and member of the Grundy Center Presbyterian church, in which capacity she found great pleasure in always doing her part, sacrificing herself in many ways, in a sincere devotion to her Christian duties. In her contact with the people of her community, she won for herself many devoted friends, and in other relationships also, of a social and serviceable nature, her presence and association were always a delight. She was an interested and valued member also of the Cecelian Choir, all the members of which will miss her presence and help.

And thus, through the course of the years, Mrs. McDowell lived, and loved, and served, in the serene enjoyment of her home, her associates and friends. But a sinister hand began its insidious and destruction work, the sorrowful effects of which only the prevailing providence of a beneficent God can overrule for good. After months of patient suffering, and signifying at length her full resignation to what seemed inevitable, Mrs. McDowell, trusting in her Savior, passed peacefully away, to be with Him, at 5:30 o'clock on the morning of March 11, 1934, at the age of 52 years, 6 months, and 14 days.

She leaves to mourn her loss her husband, daughter, three sons; her brothers and sisters, and other relatives, and many friends, all of whom will tenderly cherish and bless her memory.

Relatives from a distance present at the funeral services were Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Leichtfuss, and William Schwalbe, from Milwaukee; Mrs. Anna Young, Vancouver, B.C.; Geo. Schwalbe, Hartford, Wis.; Harriette McDowell, St. Louis; William McDowell, Chicago, and James McDowell, Wabash, Ind.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 15 March 1934, pg 1