Thomas McDowell, 58, of Oskaloosa, died Monday, March 7, 2022, at his home in Oskaloosa. He was born February 29, 1964, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Ronald McDowell and Patricia Scarff. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School with the class of 1982. He went on to earn his BS in Environmental Studies from Iowa Wesleyan University. On April 29, 1989, he was united in marriage to Sara Van Dell in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. To this union two children were born, Jakob and Kelsie. In 1988, Tom began work at Blue Bird Bus Company in Mt. Pleasant. In 1999, the family moved to Oskaloosa. Tom took a job as the Purchasing Manager at Clow Valve. He has stayed in that position for the past 21 years. Tom was an avid outdoorsman, he loved to hunt, fish, camp, and garden. He was a devoted family man. He and Sara traveled all over the Midwest to watch their children participate in various activities.
His family includes his wife of over 32 years, Sara McDowell of Oskaloosa; two children, Kelsie McDowell of Des Moines and Jakob and his wife Mary McDowell of Pella; a grandson, Judah McDowell; his mother, Patricia Scarff of Mt. Pleasant; a brother, Tony (Natalie) McDowell of Mt. Pleasant; a sister, Terri McDowell of Ottumwa; a sister in law, Lynn (David) Waterman of Macomb, Illinois; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father and stepmother, Ronald and Linda McDowell and his brother in law, Doug Van Dell.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 12, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. As was Tom’s wish his body has been cremated. Visitation will begin Friday after 12 noon in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-8 Friday evening to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to the Women’s Rugby Club at Iowa State.

AJ was born to the late Boyd and Margaretha Boysen on November 1, 1925.  His parents rented various farms in Louisa County before purchasing land near Virginia Grove.  He attended the Washington #4 one-room schoolhouse, that remains in Virginia Grove today.  He remembers bringing coal or firewood into the schoolhouse each morning so the pot-bellied stove would burn red hot during the winter.

AJ graduated from Wapello High School in 1943.  He served in the Air Force during WWII and at the end of the war had to decide between an administrative position at the Pentagon or returning to farm in Louisa County.  He chose the latter, but first attended Iowa State University where he received a Farm Management A.A.  He met Dorothy Wright at Iowa State and they enjoyed 66 years of marriage.

Shortly after he returned to Louisa County, he was asked to create a 4-H club in Marshall township.  In the 1970s he was asked to lead an effort to develop Camp Langwood.  He was active in 4-H for many years and in 2003 he received the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame award for his lifetime contributions.

AJ worked to improve himself and the world around him.  He commuted to Iowa Wesleyan College for several years advancing through their Executive Development program.  He became an accredited farm manager and rural appraiser.  This allowed him to manage farms for individuals living in other parts of the country and to appraise farms and businesses in Louisa County.

AJ provided leadership to many organizations including:  Wapello United Methodist Church, Louisa County Beef Producers, Soybean Association, Southeastern Community College, Iowa 4-H Foundation, Kiwanis, Farm Bureau, Louisa County Historical Society, Morning Sun American Legion, American Association of Farm Managers and Appraisers, Louisa County Corn Growers, and the American Angus Association.

AJ enjoyed walking through the woods with Dorothy and developing the timber on his property.  In 2017 he was named Woodland Owner of the Year in Louisa County.

AJ grew up with horses and enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren to ride.  He also enjoyed taking each of his children and grandchildren to Europe to introduce them to their relatives.  AJ could speak both English and German and was recruited to help lead People to People tours to Europe so others could better appreciate what we share in common with others in this world.

AJ had two children; Karen Boysen Rowe (Tim) of Los Alamitos, CA and Rob Boysen of West Des Moines, IA.  He has five Grandchildren: Jess Boysen (Chris) of Minneapolis, MN, Adam Boysen (Crystal) of Denver, CO, Erika Boysen of Greensboro, NC, Kristina Kulczycki (Eric) of La Canada, CA, Katie Rowe (Colin Wessells) of Menlo Park, CA.  He was loved by his extended family including his late sister, Marie and her children Maurice Mecklenburg and Mary Goodwin, his brother, Elmer, his cousins Lisa Zosulis, Martin Hoeg, Edlef Boysen, and Albert Boysen.

Funeral Services for AJ will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at the Wapello United Methodist Church with Pastor Pam Kranzler officiating.  A graveside service with Military Honors will follow at the Wapello Cemetery.  Following the committal services at the cemetery, a time of food and fellowship will be held in the  Wapello United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.  In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Wapello Methodist Church Building Fund.  Online condolences may be left for the Boysen family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com   Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello is caring for the arrangements.