Nancy Cecelia McDowell

Nancy Cecelia (Wick) McDowell, 89, of Ottumwa and formerly of Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, August 23, 2026 at the Good Samaritan Society Timber Ridge Assisted Living facility in Ottumwa.

Nancy was born February 12, 1937 in Henry County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Dale McClure and Marie Ida (Vandersnick) Wick. Nancy graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School. On December 27, 1956 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fairfield, Nancy was united in marriage to Arlen “Red” Eugene McDowell. Mr. McDowell preceded Nancy in death on October 27, 2020 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.

For 33 years, Nancy was employed in the food service department of the Ottumwa Community School District. She was briefly at different schools before cooking at Evans Middle School. Primarily, Ottumwa High School graduates will remember Nancy as being the “Snack Shack Lady”, providing an untold number of treats and goodies to the hungry high schoolers.

A resident of the Ottumwa area since the early 1960’s, Nancy was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ottumwa.

Nancy had a wide variety of interests. She dearly enjoyed traveling, notably to visit relatives in Oregon and Southern California. With her family, she made multiple trips to Colorado, many in the converted camper her husband Red made out of a former bread truck. When at home, Nancy was very gifted and adept in knitting. Her cooking skills were not only her vocation, but her avocation as well. She loved to cook and bake – candies and cookies and turkey on the grill. It was her delight to have her family around as they came to visit and enjoy Nancy’s generous hospitality. Birds and wildlife were a fascination to her, especially after she moved to Timber Ridge, where the birds benefitted from the food Nancy supplied.

Nancy is survived by her children and their spouses – Theresa & Mike Wallace of Blue Grass, IA, Kim & Tim Thornbrugh of Cedar, IA and Kevin “Joe” & Connie McDowell of Ottumwa. Her children gave her one of life’s greatest gifts – the opportunity to become a mother and grandmother and watch her family continue to grow. She was blessed with 7 grandchildren – Amy (Jeff) Scott, Sharon Wallace, Lisa (James) Sullivan, Levi (Raelyn) McDowell, Joshua (Shannon) Thornbrugh, Jessica (Chris) Stuckey and J.D. (Heather) Copple. Nancy was also blessed with 19 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. She was anticipating the birth of her 4th great grandchild. Nancy is also survived by her dear friend, Maggie Bottorff and her sisters-in-law, Marilyn and Diana Wick.

Nancy’s parents, husband “Red”, siblings Richard “Dick” Wick, Robert “Bob” Wick , Eileen Meagher and her husband Larry and a great great grandchild precede Nancy in death.

A graveside funeral service for Nancy will be held at 2:30 PM on Thursday, August 27 at the St. Alphonsus Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant. Visitation will be from 1-2PM on Thursday afternoon at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, which is assisting Nancy’s family with her arrangements.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Ottumwa Public Library or Care Initiatives Hospice of Ottumwa

Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com