Angela K. Dowden

Angela K. Dowden, age 41, of Decorah, Iowa, died Monday morning, January 25, 2016 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 30, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, with Rev. John Caldwell officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, January 29 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Saturday beginning at 10:00 a.m., one hour before the service, at First United Methodist Church. Angela (Angie) Kristine Dowden was born June 15, 1974 in Cherokee, Iowa, the daughter of Kevin and Barbara (Holland) Kuhnes. She graduated from Marcus -Meriden-Cleghorn High School with the class of 1993. Angie went on the attend Wayne State College in Wayne, NE, where she majored in theater. This is where she met her best friend and the love of her life, Michael Dowden. Angela graduated from Wayne State in 1997. She was united in marriage with Michael D. Dowden on July 12, 1997 at the First Presbyterian Church in Cleghorn, Iowa. This union was blessed with 2 daughters, Ezri and Kira. Angie and Michael made their home in Omaha, Nebraska, where she worked as a costume designer and seamstress. They welcomed their first daughter Ezri Chase in 1999. Angela returned to school and earned her teaching degree from University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2004. Angie, Michael, and Ezri moved to Decorah, Iowa in 2005. Angela began working for Opportunity Homes in 2006, as a Service Coordinator. She made good things happen for other people. Angie and Michael celebrated the birth of their second daughter Kira Alexis in 2009. Angie was born to be a wife and mother. She was a shining example of both as well as an amazing daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Angie enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, music, movies, games, coffee, wine, and she loved to read. She was a devote Nebraska Huskers fan. She will be remembered always for her kindness, thoughtfulness, loyalty, creativity, smile, and wit. Angie was also giving in her death. She improved and saved the lives of others through being an organ donor. Angela entered into eternal peace on Monday morning, January 25, 2016 at Gundersen Lutheran Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Bailus and Bette Holland; her paternal grandparents, Kenneth and Carol Kuhnes; and her father-in-law, Bobby Gene Dowden in 2009. Angela is survived by her husband Michael; her two daughters, Ezri and Kira; her parents, Kevin and Barbara Kuhnes of Cleghorn, IA; her five siblings: Heather Plum of Cherokee, IA, Daniel (Janet) Kuhnes of Lakeville, MN and her triplet sisters, Jennifer (Tracy) Huff of Cleghorn, IA, Dawn (Mark) Stephenson of Cherokee, IA, and Kimberly (Dr. John) Schleef of Cleghorn, IA; two sisters-in-law, Cheryl (Monte) Wieseler of Decorah, IA and Jennifer (Derek) Quave of DeQuincy, LA; one brother-in-law, Nick (Erin) DeRoos of Crofton, NE, her father- and mother-in-law, David and Carolyn DeRoos of Crofton, NE, and her step mother-in-law, Cassie Dowden of DeQuincy, LA. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Michael Dowden to set up an investment fund for each of the daughters (Ezri and Kira), for their college education.