Patricia "Pat" A. Mc Dowell

Patricia “Pat” McDowell, age 91, passed away peacefully at Bethany St. Joesph’s on November 10th, 2025.

She was born on June 11, 1934, at her family home on the original La Crosse Country Club golf course. She graduated from Aquinas High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Pat worked at Trane Company in La Crosse. It was there that she met Blaine McDowell. They were later married on February 16th, 1957. They added to the large Kubiak and Mc Dowell families with their two daughters, Patty and Debbe.

Together, Pat and Blaine embraced life’s adventures, enjoying travel opportunities that took them across the globe. Their journeys included memorable trips to Switzerland, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Aruba, and Germany, as well as a cherished Alaskan cruise with dear friends Curt and Avis Reed.

Pat found joy in gardening, golfing, bowling, cooking, and baking; especially in trying new recipes, which she generously shared at family gatherings. She also loved cheering on her grandchildren at their sporting events and was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers.

She is survived by her daughters, Patty (Sam) Fellows and Debbe (Mike) Topel; grandchildren Sam Fellows IV, Tyler (Linnea) Fellows, great grandchildren, Calie and Jaxsyn; Sierra (Joe) Branson, great grandchildren, Harper, Izzie and Sonny; Micah (Scott) Topel, great grandchild, Clara; and Jonah (Keara) Topel.

She is also survived by her in-laws, Ruby (Barry) Shaw and Ruth Freiheit, along with many nieces and nephews.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Blaine; parents Harry and Johanna Kubiak; and her siblings: Izzy (Sully) Surges, Harry “Brother” (Millie) Kubiak, Marian (Pete) Pierce, La Verne (Joe) Maglio, Kate (Bud) Cook, Jeanette (Jim) Pearse, Kenneth “Skip” Kubiak, Shirley (Jerry) Weis, Sandy (Lyle) Quillin, and a stillborn infant sister, Theresa. She was also predeceased by her McDowell family in-laws: Fritz (Mae) McDowell, Bertie McDowell, Etta McDowell, Jessie and Jennie McDowell, Elsie McDowell, Beulah (Bob) Dietrich, Alida (Reo) Sallander, Maurice (Shirley) McDowell, Hugh (Bev) McDowell, and brother-in-law Bob Freiheit.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Bethany St. Joe’s Nursing Home for the wonderful care and love they provided to Pat over the past five years. They also wish to thank St. Croix Hospice for their kind and compassionate care during her final days.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Sunday, November 16th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home in La Crosse, Wisconsin. All who knew Pat are welcome to attend and share in honoring her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Recreational Therapy program at Bethany St. Joesph’s Nursing Home, (2501 Shelby Road, La Crosse, WI 54601), in recognition of the joy and enrichment it brought to Pat’s life.