Glen Rye McDowell

Glen Rye McDowell, age 86, of Rudyard, Michigan, died on Thursday, October 2, 2014 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He was born on June 7, 1928 in Rudyard Township to Elmer Vern and Edith Delilah (Rye) McDowell. Glen grew up on the PeaLine Road. He had fond memories of his childhood. A highlight of his childhood was the Rudyard Basketball team winning the Upper Peninsula Championship. He remembered how hard it was for the team players to get to practice with all of their extra jobs, farm chores that had to be done, but they somehow made it and winning the games made it all worthwhile. Glen graduated from Rudyard High School in 1946. He went to Michigan State College on a scholarship for the Short Agricultural Courses that were offered. He graduated after 2 semesters of attending there in 1948. After graduating, he worked in Saginaw at the Saginaw Steering Gear until he had saved enough money to return to Rudyard. Upon his return he bought two farms to fulfill his dreams and start farming. In 1948 he started his Hay Business, by selling straw to the Ball Mason Canning Company. He sold hay to many different places including: Mackinac Island, the race horse, Secretariat, in Kentucky, the Queen of England, and to Mexico City for the 1968 Olympics. On his 80th birthday June 7th, 2008 he was presented with a plaque from the National Hay Board Association commending him on his 60 years in the hay business. In 1949 he also started logging. Glen married Theresa Marie Vigneaux on June 9, 1951 and they began their family. After starting his family, in 1953 he bought the Forgrave Machinery with his father, Elmer McDowell, and started McDowell Equipment, selling farm and logging machinery. In 1966 he sold John Deere Equipment and was honored with the presence of the President of the John Deere Company coming to his Open House in Rudyard. William Hewitt, the president, left a short note for Glen to keep. “To the father of a baseball team - from a father of only three.” Roughly in 1965 Glen and several other Rudyard businessmen started the Rudyard Industrial Corporation. They were able to get United Parcel Service into Rudyard. They bought land by the Pine River and sold it to Schultz, Snyder and Steele (now Louie’s Well Drilling). They also worked hard to get Wickes Lumber (now ProBuild) into Rudyard. In 1978 he was on the Kinross EDC bringing in new businesses into Kinross after the Air Force Base left. He also sold houses all over the Upper Peninsula and later he was a tax assessor. In 1984 he was elected a board member of the Upper Peninsula State Fair Board for twelve years. During his last years on the board, he was elected President of the Upper Peninsula State Fair Board. He was honored for his work by several Governors, Senators and Representatives. He worked hard helping the farmers and people of the Upper Peninsula to have an opportunity to display, share and demonstrate all of their work, livestock, skills, crafts, projects and equipment at the Escanaba Fair. He has been a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rudyard and served on the Parish Council and on the Finance Council and also as Chairman of both at different times. He worked hard in maintaining the church and helping to obtain land for parking lots and a new garage and remodeled parish hall and kitchen. He was always working toward the goal of having a handicap accessible parish hall. Glen and Theresa were awarded Rudyard Citizen of the Year in 2009. His family will cherish all the days with him on the farm, at the cabin on St. Martins Bay, at the hunting camp and the weekend adventures in the station wagon. Glen is survived by wife, Theresa Marie McDowell of Rudyard; ten children, Gary (Carrie) McDowell, Mary Kay (Ernie) Aho, JoAnn (Walt) Betcher, Karen (Richard) Boncek, Bob (Bernadette) McDowell, Annette (Bob) Malaski, Ron McDowell, Susan (Mike) Wilds, Jim (Heather) McDowell and Kevin (Kristen) McDowell; grandchildren, Alivia (Mark) Howland, Emily (Eric) Plachta, Rochelle McDowell, Matt (Stacey) Aho, Jenna (Jan-Michael) Aho, Jenny (Andrew) Chubb, Dan Betcher, Joe (Degi) Betcher, Kevin (Alicia) Boncek, Brittney Boncek, Gregory Boncek, Jay (Paige) Chick, Stacia (Chad) Chick, Mark Chick, Brandon (Becky) Malaski, Brent (Kaitlyn) Malaski, Alex Malaski, Rebecca, Monica, and Robert Malaski, Derek and Marquita Wilds, Henry and Joe McDowell; great grandchildren, Garrett Howland, Ajay Chubb, William Chadwick, Parker and Kinley Malaski, and Madeline, Abigal, Clifford, Wyatt Chick; sisters-in-law, Doris McDowell, Susan McDowell, Eudene McDowell, Blanche Schlehuber, Marie (Gene) Backland; brother-in-law, Paul (Betty) Vigneaux. Glen was preceded in death by brothers, Vern, Clayton, Clyde, and Leonard; sisters, Phyllis Ehie, and Raya McDowell. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 6, 2014 from 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. at R. Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129 in Pickford, Michigan. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rudyard. Father Thomas Chirackal and Deacon Roger Bygrave will be conducting the Mass. There will be visitation at the church on Monday from 10:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. Burial will be at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens. Memorial contributions may be left to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rgalerfuneralhome.com.

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Glen Rye McDowell

June 7, 1928 - October 2, 2014