- Name: Jackie "Jack" Byron Dowell
- Location of Birth: Itasca County, Minnesota
- Date of Birth: August 8, 1934
- Date of Death: May 1, 2007 (72 years old)
- Parents: Charles Herbert Dowell and Emily Caroline (Akre) Dowell
- High School and Class: GED
- College: Minnesota School of Business, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Highest Rank: CPL (Corporal)
- Branch: Army
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In: February 13, 1951
- Place Sworn In: Kalispell, Montana
- Date of Discharge: February 14, 1954
- Place of Discharge: St. Louis,Missouri
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Units and Locations:
Start Date End Date Unit(s) and Location(s) Served February, 1951 August, 1952 Camp Rucker, Alabama August, 1952 August, 1953 40th Infantry Division, Korea September, 1953 February, 1954 Camp Carson, Colorado - Military Awards:
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal - Military Highlights:
RA19403230, 170th Artillery
Honorable Discharge - Corporal in the United States Army - Wars Involved:
Korean Conflict -- also called "The Forgotten War" - MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
Jack left school early to join the Army, serving in the Korean Conflict.
He returned home to marry Jacqueline Meyer on December 10, 1953 and the couple had four daughters.
Jack had many passions in life; his largest passion dedicated to civic leadership.
Jack was actively involved with the Junior Chamber of Commerce and was a driving force for bringing the Soap Box Derby races to the Grand Rapids, Minnesota, area.
Jack joined the Grand Rapids Fire Department in 1962 and served as the GRFD Chief from 1973-1983, retiring after twenty-two years in 1984. He was serving as a Minnesota State Fire Warden at the time of his death.
Jack enjoyed all aspects of civic service. He was an EMT; he served with the National Ski Patrol; he was a police commissioner for the City of Grand Rapids, Minnesota and he served two terms as the Mayor of Cohasset from 1993-1997.
In his early years, Jack's salesman appeal earned him many customers while working for Goldfine's Furniture and Swanson Chevrolet. He eventually went into a career that he described as his ideal job, owning and operating Dowell Insurance Agency as an American Family Insurance Agent for nearly thirty years.
Jack was a larger than life figure to his family and friends. He loved people and people loved him. He was named the Grand Rapids Herald Review Citizen of the Year in 1998.
Jack will always be remembered for his great sense of humor, his overt flirting with the ladies, his wonderful summer garbage can/BBQ picnic parties and being the ever-jovial Santa visiting friends and family each Christmas. Jack's motto was always: "Everyone welcome any time, all the time." He was a man who found joy with visiting with people from all walks of life. He loved to shop, collect things, go to garage sales and go to the casino. Jack loved to sing karaoke and favored the song, "I did it my way" as he felt he had a long and blessed life despite many health complications over the past decade. Jack was a role model to many and a hero to his children. His warm smile and generous nature will be deeply and sadly missed.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved brother, James F. Dowell. He is survived by his fiancée Lucille Cleveland; his four daughters, Jill Zauhar (Bob) Backberg, Kim, Pamela, and Judi; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five sisters, Janice Dowell, JoAnn Carter, Jule Sabo, Jeanne Willett and Debra Dowell; along with numerous friends and relatives.
Jack passed away peacefully in the arms of his daughters, Kim and Pam, at his Pokegama Lake home. He had recently returned from his winter Florida home to spend the summer on the lake. Jack is buried in Itasca Calvary Cemetery at Grand Rapids, Minnesota. (Plot I-D-01-0-6) - Tribal Affiliation(s):