Wednesday, October 18, 2017 4:38 pm
Elaine Lowry, 95, of Decorah, died Monday, Oct. 16, 2017, at the Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Calmar, with Rev. Ron Pederson officiating. Organist was Dianne Rocksvold. Congregational hymns were “Jesus Loves Me,” “Just as I am” and “Beautiful Savior.” Honorary casket bearers were Dick Fry, David Fry, Chuck Klingebiel and Don Klingebiel. Casket bearers were Wayne Sunday, Greg Sunday, Scott Sunday, David Sunday, Ron Peele, Jeff Johnson and Mark Sunday. Interment was at Calmar City Cemetery, Calmar. Arrangements were handled Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Decorah.
Elaine Alice (Sunday) Lowry was born Dec. 20, 1921, the daughter of Emil and Helma (Bergland) Sunday on a farm in Springfield Township, rural Decorah. Elaine was baptized at home and confirmed at the Calmar Lutheran Church. She attended the Knutson Country School and then later graduated from Decorah High School in 1940. After high school, Elaine worked as a waitress at the Model Restaurant and also as a secretary for Decorah Attorney E.P. Shea. She then went on to work for the Farmer’s Home Administration for two and a half years, and this is where she met her future husband, Clarence C. C. “Pete” Lowry. They were married Sept. 2, 1946, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. In 1955, they built the first home in the Dahly Addition and Elaine has just simply loved every inch of her home ever since. Elaine worked at the Decorah Public Library for 20 years, retiring in 1988. Over the years, she and Pete traveled the United States extensively by automobile; never by airplane. Elaine simply loved life, despite her arthritis the past few years. Elaine loved flower gardening and keeping her home and yard meticulous. She enjoyed baking and cooking and searching for good recipes. She was a staunch Democrat and loved politics. Elaine was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Calmar, serving as president and treasurer of the Ladies Aide, the Decorah VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the Aase Haugen Ladies Auxiliary. In early years, Elaine was a Girl Scout leader, taught Sunday school and always was willing to volunteer in the community.
Elaine is survived by her daughter, Linda Bickford and husband, Bernie, Eagle Grove; one grandson, Marshall Bickford, Eagle Grove; one sister, Norma Costa, Decorah; one sister-in-law, Betty Sunday, Waukegan, Ill.; along with several nieces and nephews.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Helma (Bergland) Sunday; her husband, Clarence C. C. “Pete” Lowry, April 16, 1993; four brothers: Lester (Mayme) Sunday, Earl Sunday, Walter (Donna) Sunday and Harold (Mary) Sunday; one nephew, Rod Sunday; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Webster and Arminte “Minty” Lowry; three sisters-in-law: Hazel (Kenneth “Funk”) Funkhouser, Phyllis (Darwin) Fry and Bessie (Walter) Klingebiel; brother-in-law, Everett Costa.
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