Lorraine Gowdy

Lorraine M. Gowdy, 86, of Des Moines, died Thursday, January 27, 2011 at Wesley Acres Health Care Center in Des Moines. A Funeral Mass will be held Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Williams, with Father James McAlpin officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Arrangements were made with the Foster Funeral & Cremation Center in Webster City. Lorraine Mary Gowdy daughter of Adolph and Elizabeth Haijsman Krieger was born on February 24, 1924 in Blairsburg, Iowa. She received her education and graduated from the Blairsburg High School in 1942. Following graduation, Lorraine worked for the Hamilton County Public Hospital in Webster City. On November 27, 1945 she married John "Jack" Gowdy at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Williams. They resided for a short time in International Falls, MN, then moved to a farm 2 ½ miles northwest of Williams. In 1995, the couple moved from their farm to Webster City where they had resided until moving to Urbandale in 2001. Mr. Gowdy died on July 1, 2006. Lorraine currently had been residing at Wesley Acres in Des Moines. Survivors include her sons, Greg Gowdy and partner, Jack Balzer of Muskego, WI; Tom and wife, Michelle Gowdy of Des Moines; daughter, Patricia Gowdy of Affton, MO; grandchildren, Josh and Joe Gowdy; Whitney and Hunter Warne; great grandson, Jackson John Gowdy; sister, Dorothy Helmke of Swea City, IA; brother, Francis and wife, Ginny Krieger of Webster City; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband Jack, she was preceded in death by her parents. Lorraine was a member of St. Mary's of the Nazareth Church in Des Moines, where she was active with in the various church circles. She was also a member of the KYN Club in Williams, and was the Williams Township Clerk for many years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Lorraine's memory to the American Heart Association. Write a personal tribute or light a virtual candle for the Gowdy family at www.fosterfuneralandcremation.com