Darold Owen Lowe

Darold "Dode" Lowe made sure he voted early in this election. Being a former AFSCME Union organizer he cared about workers and knew that elections affect workers and their families. He believed in a living wage that would help lift families out of poverty, pay equity, fair taxation, and quality education. He felt the Democratic Party was the best road to reach those goals. That's why he voted early for Mary Burke for governor and Susan Happ for A.G.

Dode was born on Jan. 28, 1938, in Eau Claire as the son of Agnes and Owen Lowe. As a child his father would bring him to the Union Hall where he would hear about union issues and pending strikes. After serving in the U.S. Army, Dode married Gretchen Knickerbocker and they had three children, Mark Lowe, Susan Lowe Mautz and Amy Lowe. They moved to Madison in 1971 and lived on the "good side, the only side, the East Side."

Every election day, he would make sure his children knew who the correct candidates were by circling their names on the sample ballot in the paper (They still laugh about this). Dode and Gretchen worked side by side in every election turning out the vote.

Dode's love for politics led him to be a delegate at the 1980 Democratic National Convention and a member of the DNC, delegate to the South Side Federation of Labor, board member of AFSCME 2nd CD PEOPLE Committee, Dane County Democrats and WIARA. Also concerned about the community, he served on the Rolling Meadows Neighborhood Association, United Way Board, and Dane County Board of Supervisors, the Madison Personnel Board, Dane County Parks Commission and Dane County Library Board.

Dode died on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, at University Hospital. We thank the staff who worked so hard to keep him well.

He is survived by his wife, Gretchen; children, Mark (Terri) Lowe, Susan (Jeff) Mautz and Amy Lowe (Shawn Bauer); three grandchildren, Matthew Lowe, Andrea Wilson and Megan Lowe; two sisters, Barbara Nelson of Osseo, and Mary Whitman of Hazelhurst; brothers-in-law, Tom Knickerbocker and Jerry Knickerbocker; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother; father; sister, Carol Knutson; and brother, Steven Lowe.

Voting for Mary Burke and Susan Happ was his goal. His light shone bright and showed the way for many others. Dode will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at a later date.

Informed Choice is assisting the family with their cremation needs.