Ardith Mcdowell

Ardith Ellis McDowell passed away peacefully on December 30, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin at the age of 98. Beloved wife, mother, and friend, Ardith was an active participant and leader in her church, community, and many organizations; an enthusiastic world traveler and life-long learner; knowledgeable naturalist; and family historian.

Born in 1918 to John and Emma Ellis, Ardith was the eldest of 5 children and grew up on a dairy farm in Endeavor, Wisconsin.

Ardith graduated from Portage High School and attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She met the love of her life, Donald McDowell, through 4-H club activities when she was 14 years old, and they were married 5 years later. After college, Ardith and Don lived in Spring Green and Waukesha, and moved to Madison in 1947, when Don took a position with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. He went on to serve as head of the department for nearly 20 years.

Ardith was a loving and devoted life-partner to Don, supporting him in his career, serving as his trusted confidant and sounding board, and, along with Don, providing a supportive, loving home for their five children. Ardith was also active in PTA, church activities, Extension Homemakers, 4-H, and other organizations - often serving in local, state, and national leadership positions.

Ardith brought many international students into the family's home. Besides providing a positive, first-hand experience of American family life for the students, these visits enriched family life for the McDowells and sparked in the whole family an appreciation and interest in other cultures, world affairs, and travel.

Ardith and Don were avid travelers, eventually visiting most U.S. states and 75 countries. The two of them served as leaders of 10 People-to-People international tour groups of Wisconsin agricultural leaders. Besides the opportunity to see much of the world themselves, leading the tours gave them the opportunity to share memorable experiences with dear friends, make new friends at home and abroad, and to strive, along with their fellow-travelers, to serve as ambassadors of understanding and good will around the world.

Another rewarding activity for Ardith was her long involvement with the Wisconsin-Nicaragua Partners of America. She initiated a successful, ongoing collaboration between that organization and Home and Community Educators (formerly Extension Homemakers) to gather and send sewing supplies to sewing centers in Nicaragua, where local women are taught about sewing, marketing, and health. There are now over 60 of these centers throughout Nicaragua.

After Don's retirement, Ardith and Don moved to rural Montello, Wisconsin in Marquette County. Ardith became very involved in community, church, and historical documentation and preservation activities in the area, and continued her involvement in many statewide and national organizations and her long commitment to environmental issues. She also thoroughly enjoyed time with family and friends, gardening, and observing local plants, birds, and other wildlife.

During that time, she served for 9 years as chairperson of the Letter Friends International Program for Associated Country Women of the World, a program that matches women from many countries as pen pals to create bonds of friendship between individuals across the globe. In that post, Ardith brought over 600 women together as "letter friends." Many of them have continued to correspond for many years, and some have made trips to visit their new friends in their home countries.

Throughout her life, Ardith lived her deeply-held Christian values and was actively involved in the Presbyterian Church at the local and regional levels.

After Don's death in 2000, Ardith continued to live on her own in rural Montello, until, at age 90, she became a year-round resident of Oakwood Village-University Woods in Madison. She enjoyed being back in Madison, reuniting with old friends, making many new friends, spending time with family members, and getting involved in new activities. As she did throughout her life, she lived her final years with purpose, gratitude, and grace.

Ardith was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings Mildred Woodyard, Henry Ellis, and Jonette Mills. She is survived by her children Tom (Juanita) McDowell of Montello, Donna (George) Beestman of Madison, Brad (Laurie) McDowell of Verona, Mary McDowell (Gordon Williams) of Juneau, Alaska, and Bonnie (Bruce) Nissly of West Bend; nephew Phil (Susan) Miller of Boerne, Texas; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; sister Audrey Kuring; and numerous other extended family members. Ardith deeply appreciated her large, loving family and thoroughly enjoyed every family gathering.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 16, 2017 at the chapel of Oakwood Village - University Woods (6201 Mineral Point Rd, Madison). The service will be preceded by visitation at 1:00, and followed by a reception in the Oakwood Village Westmorland-Nakoma Room.

For those wishing to make memorial donations, the family gratefully suggests The Oakwood Foundation (6201 Mineral Point Rd., Madison, WI 53705), Marquette County Historical Society (Box 172, Westfield, WI 53964), or "The Ardith McDowell International Scholarship" established by the Wisconsin Home and Community Educators (c/o HCE Treasurer Judy Bender, N1440 Spring Lake Drive, Dalton, WI 53926).

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434