Maecile M. "Mae" Mcdowell

Stella Mettler’s birthday gift on June 13, 1921 was a baby girl, the fifth of Howard and Stella’s seven children. It took about a week before they chose her name. Maecile Mary Mettler they finally decided, but mostly she was known as Mae. Hard work on the Amery, Wisconsin farm and a little log house must have been healthy for the seven because they all lived long lives. Mae was the only one though who reached the century milestone.

Dreams came true on April 30 ^th , 1944 in Amery Wisconsin when Thomas Frederick McDowell and Mae exchanged their vows. Fritz and Mae became a team, united not only in marriage but in a journey of learning to love and serve Jesus together. That looked a lot like loving and caring for the people God brought into their lives. From their five children (Stella, Mary Ann, Janice, Jim, and Tim), eleven children were blessed to called Fritz and Mae, “Grandpa” and “Grandma”. And from those eleven, 47 more were added to the family.

Fritz and Mae opened their hearts and home to five foster children. Many others say they feel like part of the family after being in Fritz and Mae’s home. Hospitality has always been high on their list of priorities. Even when they lived full time in an RV for nine years, they still made room for visitors at their table.

Long before Fritz passed from earth to heaven, Mae prayed they would make that journey together. That was one prayer God answered with a “No”. God still had more assignments for her. But, how could she go on living and serving the LORD without her teammate. They had done so much together.

Early in their marriage they joined a small group and became charter members of First Free Church (known earlier as Moody Memorial Ev. Free Church). Their passion was to introduce people to Jesus. Active involvement in the church grew them in their love and understanding of God’s Word and that led to serving in various leadership roles and participation in developing Arrowhead Bible Camp. God gave them a heart for caring about each person God placed in their lives. Their huge garden fed many more than just their family. Mae led a ministry of blessing new babies in the church with a blanket, and they started the prayer ministry as a part of the church’s food pantry program.

Her priority was the family; teaching and training them by example. Mae did work outside the home when the children were older. Her jobs always centered on helping people whether as a nurse aide, a school cook, or a pre-school teacher. There was often time for playing games like Dirty Marbles or Hand and Foot, but it was extra fun to have others join them for games, especially in their retirement years.

For the past 9 years, heaven seemed even more desirable to Mae since Fritz and son, Tim, were already there. Since she was still here, she strived to finish the work God prompted her to do. Always her hands kept busy making quilts, crafts or scrubbies. In the last few years Mae has enjoyed autographing the book Leaving Tracks in the Snow authored by her daughter, Stella. It’s an inspirational story of Fritz and Mae’s life. Mae loved sharing that book with people because it contained messages she wanted everyone to know.

Mae was most happy with friends surrounding her. Over the course of a four day 100 ^th birthday celebration more than 300 friends/family conversed personally with her, often commenting how she impacted their life. Mae already had a son, Jim, born on her 32nd birthday and on her 100 ^th birthday she gained an honorary daughter, Kristin Zachary. Kristin has been her companion/caregiver for 4 years.

Mae continued the tradition of having company for Sunday dinner right up until her last Sunday. Nine gathered around the table to celebrate the 4 ^th of July with Mae. Two days later, July 6, with her work on earth completed, her children surrounded her as she passed into the presence of Jesus, Fritz, and Tim, who would welcome Mae to her new address, Heaven.

Mae is survived by her children; Stella (Terry) Schams of Tempe, AZ.., Mary Ann Maple of Edina, MN., Janice (David) Nelson of Maplewood, MN., Jim (Sheryl) McDowell of La Crosse.  In addition to her husband Thomas "Fritz" McDowell, she was preceded in death by one son Tim and one son in law Gil Maple.

In lieu of flowers Mae requested that memorial gifts be given to Arrowhead Bible Camp, First Free Church in Onalaska, Child Evangelism, or Transformation Ministry (Weiss/Kabutha).

Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Monday, July 12, 2021 at First Evangelical Free Church; 123 Mason St., in Onalaska. Rev. David Holt will officiate. Private family burial will take place in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park. Visitation will be held on Sunday evening from 4 until 6 pm at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services La Crosse chapel; 200 West Ave. So. La Crosse.