Bernard B. Downs

Cuba City, Wisconsin Bernard B. "Barney" Downs, 84, of Cuba City, Wisconsin, died Sunday, March 30, 2014, at Epione Pavilion in Cuba City. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at St. Rose of Lima Church in Cuba City with Rev. David Flanagan officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at Casey Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Cuba City where the Catholic Daughters rosary will be at 2:45 p.m. Friends may also call from 9-9:45 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home before the service. Barney was born on October 9, 1929, in Benton, Wisconsin, the son of Clyde and Cleone (McDonald) Downs. At a very early age, Barney and his parents moved to Cuba City. He graduated from Cuba City High School in 1947. Barney went to work for Willy Construction Company in Dubuque as a carpenter. In May 1951 he entered the U.S. Army (8th Infantry Division) and served one year in Japan. In 1953 Barney returned home and immediately went back to work for Willy Construction as a carpenter and later as a construction superintendent. After 25 years there he went to work at Southwest Health Center as head of maintenance and construction, retiring from there in 1993. A few months later the Durrant Group called and he spent several years with them as construction project manager. Barney married Mary Ellen Roddick on April 24, 1954, at Holy Trinity Church in Dubuque. Together they traveled extensively in the United States, first with their young family and then trips on their own. Barney was active in the Cuba City Fire Department for many years, served as a city councilman for sixteen years, and was a founding member of the Cuba City Rescue Squad. Barney was a lifelong member of St. Rose Parish, serving as an usher for decades. He was construction superintendent on the job when St. Rose School was built in 1955. Barney was always involved in the welfare of the school and parish, both while his children were in school and just as active since that time. Barney was a very active Lion for many years, and was president when the Cuba City Lioness Club was chartered in 1986. He made dozens of Wisconsin shaped pin cases for the Lions Club through the years. He helped make the first Presidential Signs for Main Street and also helped with the Caboose Project. Barney spent many happy hours in his woodworking shop. All of the family have treasures made by him through the years. His workshop has fixed many a broken treasure and built many new ones, and was his favorite place to go (dusty as it was)!! Barney was never too busy to help someone with a project or a problem, and a challenge always brought a smile to his face. Survivors include his wife, Mary; five children, Marc (Oksana), of Long Grove, Illinois, Susan (Joe Glimme) Kieler, of Cuba City, Dawn (Paul) Arnold, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Scott (Joni), of Hartford, Wisconsin, and Nancy (Bob) Schmitt, of Dickeyville; his grandchildren, Brent (Doneda) and Brian (Christie) Downs, Josh (Lidi), Jeremy (Cindy) and Melissa Kieler and Molly (Mitch) Wellsandt, and Donald, Nicholas and Josie Schmitt; a step-grandchild, Igor Pinchuk; and his great-grandchildren, Jonathon and Adri Downs and Danica Kieler. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Paddy. A Bernard B. "Barney" Downs Memorial Fund has been established. The family would like to extend a very special thanks to the top notch staff at Epione Pavilion for the loving care they gave Barney, to Kim from Grant County Hospice, and to Father Dave, Sister George, and Sister Marian.