Bruce Edward Mcdowell
July 12, 1949 — February 29, 2024
Bruce Edward McDowell, 74, of Amana, Iowa, passed away at home on February 29, 2024.
Bruce was born on July 12, 1949, in Colesburg, Iowa. He graduated from Edgewood-Colesburg High School in Colesburg. Bruce was a proud veteran, having served in the Marine Corps before his honorable discharge in 1974. He married Linda McDowell on November 2, 1981, at Little Brown Church in Nashua. Together, they enjoyed traveling the world, including to Italy, Greece, France, Las Vegas, and on multiple cruises.
For more than 20 years, Bruce and Linda owned and operated Goodyear Tire Stores in both Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Knoxville, Iowa. Bruce then went on to become a long-haul truck driver with Wal-Mart, driving for 19 years and receiving his 1 Million Safe Miles Award. He loved driving from coast to coast and seeing new areas of the country, especially during the scenic year he spent delivering to five stores in the Anchorage, Alaska area. After a long stint on the road, he was always happy to be warmly welcomed home by his wife and their two cats, Stormy and Vince.
Bruce loved attending Noelridge Park Church in Cedar Rapids with Linda when he wasn’t on the road driving. He was fulfilled by service to others, including a memorable mission trip to Guatemala with his wife and others to help build a local orphanage. An avid card player, Bruce enjoyed meeting up regularly with long-time friends to play card games.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 43 years, Linda McDowell, and children Rhonda (Bob) Sangster of Loveland, Colorado; Brenda (Barry) Werning of Blairstown, Iowa; Mike (Kim) Rieck of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Stephen (Richard) Rieck of New York City. He was proud of his grandchildren, and always enjoyed bringing them gifts from the road: Brian (Clara) Hogan Stewart, Taylor McNeal, Sara (Ryan) Riemersma, Samantha (Casey) Shoemaker, Madison (Stuart) Werning, Grant (Destany) Stewart, Nathan (Sarah) Werning, Ella Rieck, and Danielle Werning. He was equally proud of his great-grandchildren: Etta & Poppy Hogan and Callan & Reese Riemersma. Bruce is also survived by his sister, Anita (Ralph) Kratchavil; brother-in-law, Jerry (Dionne) Sacora; and sisters-in-law, Sandy Askelson, and Suzanne Rath.
A memorial service is being held at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home, 520 Wilson Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids on Sunday, March 3 at 1 p.m. A livestream of the memorial service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for Bruce, under “photos and videos or media,” starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. In recognition of Bruce’s service, donations to the Freedom Foundation Veterans Center in Cedar Rapids.
Bruce was born on July 12, 1949, in Colesburg, Iowa. He graduated from Edgewood-Colesburg High School in Colesburg. Bruce was a proud veteran, having served in the Marine Corps before his honorable discharge in 1974. He married Linda McDowell on November 2, 1981, at Little Brown Church in Nashua. Together, they enjoyed traveling the world, including to Italy, Greece, France, Las Vegas, and on multiple cruises.
For more than 20 years, Bruce and Linda owned and operated Goodyear Tire Stores in both Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Knoxville, Iowa. Bruce then went on to become a long-haul truck driver with Wal-Mart, driving for 19 years and receiving his 1 Million Safe Miles Award. He loved driving from coast to coast and seeing new areas of the country, especially during the scenic year he spent delivering to five stores in the Anchorage, Alaska area. After a long stint on the road, he was always happy to be warmly welcomed home by his wife and their two cats, Stormy and Vince.
Bruce loved attending Noelridge Park Church in Cedar Rapids with Linda when he wasn’t on the road driving. He was fulfilled by service to others, including a memorable mission trip to Guatemala with his wife and others to help build a local orphanage. An avid card player, Bruce enjoyed meeting up regularly with long-time friends to play card games.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 43 years, Linda McDowell, and children Rhonda (Bob) Sangster of Loveland, Colorado; Brenda (Barry) Werning of Blairstown, Iowa; Mike (Kim) Rieck of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Stephen (Richard) Rieck of New York City. He was proud of his grandchildren, and always enjoyed bringing them gifts from the road: Brian (Clara) Hogan Stewart, Taylor McNeal, Sara (Ryan) Riemersma, Samantha (Casey) Shoemaker, Madison (Stuart) Werning, Grant (Destany) Stewart, Nathan (Sarah) Werning, Ella Rieck, and Danielle Werning. He was equally proud of his great-grandchildren: Etta & Poppy Hogan and Callan & Reese Riemersma. Bruce is also survived by his sister, Anita (Ralph) Kratchavil; brother-in-law, Jerry (Dionne) Sacora; and sisters-in-law, Sandy Askelson, and Suzanne Rath.
A memorial service is being held at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home, 520 Wilson Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids on Sunday, March 3 at 1 p.m. A livestream of the memorial service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for Bruce, under “photos and videos or media,” starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. In recognition of Bruce’s service, donations to the Freedom Foundation Veterans Center in Cedar Rapids.
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