M. Jean Monahan Lowder 1927-2012

MONAHAN LOWDER SCHUMACHER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/13/2012 at 14:00:06

Sioux City Journal
July 31, 2012

M. Jean Monahan Lowder, formerly of Sioux City, passed away Friday, July 27, 2012, surrounded by her family. She had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor of the liver in September 2011.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Church, 1627 Grand Ave., in West Des Moines. Visitation with the family will be 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at Hamilton’s Funeral Home on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, in West Des Moines. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Jean was born on Jan. 11, 1927, to Patrick and Irene Schumacher Monahan in Shelby County, Iowa. She graduated from Creighton University School of Nursing and later received a master of arts degree from the University of South Dakota.

Jean met and married Dr. Richard Lowder in Omaha during the time he was attending Creighton’s College of Dentistry. After his graduation, they moved to Sioux City, where Dr. Lowder established a dental practice and Jean was employed with the Mercy System. After their retirement they moved to West Des Moines in 1992.

Jean continued her professional career in nursing in Sioux City, practicing in both clinical and education areas of nursing. She was a member and past president of Sigma Theta Tau Iowa chapter, Theta Gamma (Scholarship and Leadership Professional Association), and in 1992 received the Edith Ruppert award from the Iowa Nurses Association for Contributions to the Improvement of Nursing. She was a lifelong member of the American Nurses Association. After her retirement from nursing, Jean volunteered for Sacred Heart Church and for the Senior College of Greater Des Moines.

Jean had many interests in her life – faith and family were number one, followed by her nursing profession, love of fine arts, and her love and firm belief in lifelong learning. Jean faced her illness with acceptance, strength, and courage just as she had with everything she confronted in life, always relying on her strong faith in God, who would be the final decision maker of her life and death plan.

Jean is survived by her son, Mike and his wife, Kay Lowder of Urbandale, Iowa; daughters, Mary Lowder Knight and her husband, Bruce Knight of Champaign, Ill., and Suzi Lowder Kottemann and her husband, Karl Kottemann of St. Louis, Mo.; grandchildren, James "J.R." Knight and his wife, Leann of Urbana, Ill., Libby Knight of Kennesaw, Ga., Kara Kottemann Castellanos and her husband, Roi of Springfield, Va., Kristin Kottemann of St. Louis and Columbia, Mo., Matt Lowder of Ames, Iowa, and Ryan Lowder of Urbandale, Iowa.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Dr. Richard Lowder, on Dec. 1, 2009; her parents, Patrick and Irene Monahan; and her sister, Helen Monahan Ellison Dixon.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Creighton University College of Nursing, Sacred Heart Church, or the Senior College of Greater Des Moines.