Terry Clarence McDowell was born on January 23, 1937 to Victor Luke and Sarah (Robinson) McDowell in Harlan, Iowa. Terry spent his early years on a farm east of Kirkman, Iowa. Following the death of his dad, the family lived for a short time in Hamburg, Iowa before returning to the farm by Kirkman. Terry attended school in Kirkman and later Irwin-Kirkman. While in High School he participated in Football, Basketball, and Baseball graduating with the class of 1956. After high school, Terry enlisted in the United States Army. He received a Honorary Discharge on December 27, 1962, having reached the rank of E-5 Sergeant.
Following his time in the Service, he returned to Kirkman and began farming and met Darlene Alvera Irlbeck. The two were married on September 19, 1969. Three children were born to this union, Susan, Sharen and Victor. In 1973 Terry purchased a farm 2 miles east of Kirkman. This would become his home place until his later years. Terry enjoyed playing slow pitch softball with his buddies from high school, attending the state fair, and watching the world series, but his true passion was farming. He raised corn, soybeans, hay, and had hogs and cattle. He was happiest driving a tractor or sitting behind the wheel of his combine. He would spend countless hours cultivating corn with his 1066 tractor and a four-row cultivator and loved to square bail hay no matter how hot it was. He would help neighbors bail, shell corn, and chop silage, never finding a job on the farm he wouldn’t do. Terry was strong willed and always did things the way he wanted to. He was a hard worker who often said, “Let go do something whether it’s right or not” and “if you break something once in a while at least you’re doing something.”
After his “retirement” he moved to Harlan, Iowa, but would continue to come to the farm almost daily offering to help in any way he could. During harvest when his health made it impossible for him to operate machinery, he would sit by the bin and wait for the auger to run empty so he could shut the tractor off, just so he could help. Later in life Terry enjoyed attending his grandkids activities, taking trips to the casino with Lavon Christensen, and telling stories and talking farming over coffee with his friends, many of them the same friends he had in his youth.
In September of 2022, Terry became a resident of Elmcrest Retirement Home in Harlan where he passed away on October 3. In addition to his parents’ Terry was proceeded in death by his wife Darlene, and a brother William Luke.
He is survived by his children Susan Parsons and husband, Dave, of South Amana, Sharen Locklear of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Victor McDowell and wife, Jenn, of Defiance. Grandchildren Cassie, Sammie, and Aaron Parsons, Ray Locklear, and Quentin, Dallas, Braelyn, and Skyler McDowell. Sisters-in-law Katherine Dentlinger of Coon Rapids, Angline Gassman of Lake City, Elaine Irlbeck of Council Bluffs, brother-in-law Ed Irlbeck of Dedham, other relatives, and many friends.
A funeral service will be held Monday, October 10 at 10:00 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Kirkman. Visitation is Sunday, October 9 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.
Pauley Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
