Dowie, Eugene Joseph

God welcomed Eugene Joseph Dowie, God's good and faithful servant, to his eternal reward on June 16, 2010. Funeral Mass will be held 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 19, at St. Pius X Catholic Church. The Rev. Donald Klein will officiate. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, where a vigil service will take place at 6:30 p.m. Entombment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories Mausoleum.

Gene was born to Frank Dennis and Lillian (Traffley) Dowie on March 19, 1931, in Des Moines, Iowa. Gene was very athletic; after graduating from Dowling High School in Des Moines, he attended St. Louis University on a football scholarship. He later played semiprofessional baseball for several years following his service in the Korean War. Gene was also a graduate of Harvard School of Business.

Gene met the love of his life, Colleen Ruth Edwards, at a high school dance. They married Sept. 2, 1950, and have shared the dance of life for nearly 60 years.

Gene will be remembered for his passion for people. He was genuinely interested in everyone he met. He was known to say “people turned him on.” This passion greatly aided his successful sales career.

In 1973, Gene purchased Dowie Outdoor Advertising in Cedar Rapids. He was also a partner in KTOF and KMRY radio stations. He served on numerous boards and volunteer committees. Gene was probably most proud of his involvement in the Christian Business Men's Association, where he made many deep friendships.

Gene is survived by his wife, Colleen of Cedar Rapids; daughters, Debbie Bock of West Des Moines, Vickie Dowie (Steve Norton) of Panora and Cherrie McLane (John) of Anamosa; son, Gene Dowie (Alisa Butteris) of Cedar Rapids; brothers, Frank (Alyose) of West Des Moines, Larry (Linda) of Monticello and Fred (Sandra) of Van Meter; his dear sister, Denise Brunia of Ames; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Gene, an avid golfer, was also greatly blessed by and will be missed by his numerous golf buddies.

The family would like to thank his remarkable caregivers at Iowa Blood & Cancer Clinic, St. Luke's Hospital and St. Luke's Hospice. You are God's angels on earth.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Youth for Christ.

Please leave a message, tribute, or memory to the Dowie family on the Webpage,  under obituaries.