Rodney “Rod” McDowell, 63, of Des Moines and formerly of the Perry area passed away on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 12 p.m. at the Carris Family Funeral Home and Cremation Care in Perry, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Rippey Cemetery in Rippey, Iowa.
Rodney “Rod” Eugene McDowell was born March 1, 1960, in Perry, Iowa, to Vernon Lester and Lois Arlene (Pittman) McDowell.
He graduated from Perry High School.
Rod was a member of the Iowa Army National Guard and served in Operation Desert Storm.
He was united in marriage to Molle Schmidt, and to that marriage two children were born, Jason and Brenda. They were divorced, and he met Rosie Hoffman and her two children Emily and Alex.
Rod worked at EMC Insurance and then at Rees and Associates for many years.
He served on the Grand Junction Volunteer Fire DEpartment.
Rod enjoyed fishing, hunting and driving race cars.
In death he rejoins his parents, Vernon and Lois McDowell; a son, Bradley McDowell; and a grandson, Logan McDowell.
Left to cherish Rod’s memory are his children, Jason (Michelle) McDowell, Brenda (Brian) Miller, Emily Hoffman and Alex Hoffman; grandchildren, Katelynn (Brock) Louk, Garret McDowell, Taylor McDowell, Grant Miller, Degan Miller, Troy Hoffman and August Fitzgerald; siblings, Janice Miller, Marilyn Anderson, Cheryl Harris-Waskovich, Donna (Kurt) Ridnour, Julie Holland and Randy Holland.
Memorials will be given to Rod’s family for later designation and may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
