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.