Mary E. Downs

Cuba City, Wisconsin Mary E. Downs, 84, of Cuba City, Wisconsin, died Sunday, April 26, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 30, 2015 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. Wednesday at Casey Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Cuba City where the parish and Catholic Daughters wake service will be at 2:45 p.m. Friends may also call from 9-9:45 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home before the service. Mary was born on September 13, 1930, in Platteville, Wisconsin, the daughter of Donald and Myrl (Haas) Roddick. With her group of girlfriends, Mary was an avid roller skater and played in the Orchestra at Dubuque Senior. It was roller skating where Mary met her life-long love, Barney Downs. They were married on April 24, 1954, at Holy Trinity Church in Dubuque, and celebrated nearly 60 years together, sharing the joys and adventures of their five children. Mary was active in the community in many ways. A long time Lioness, Mary served as an officer and as a state officer at various times in her volunteer career. She and Barney enjoyed many friendships in the Lions and Lioness clubs, and helped with countless projects across town. Mary was equally active in her church, St. Rose of Lima in Cuba City, serving in Catholic Daughters and the Altar Society, and helping out whenever Father Dave asked. She also enjoyed volunteering alongside her children at the Turkey Supper and funeral dinners. When her children were young, Mary marshaled the Parents' Music Fund to raise funds for new uniforms. She loved to entertain and was happiest cooking a meal for others to enjoy. She also loved to play bridge and euchre and was a member of several card clubs in Cuba City and Dubuque. Mary and Barney and their children took many trips across the United States to see the country and to visit friends and relatives. When their children went out on their own, Mary and Barney continued to travel. They visited Canada, England, and The Panama Canal, but it was her beloved America that Mary loved to travel most, and she and Barney saw the vast majority of it in their travels together. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her only sister, Janice Drish, and her beloved Barney. She leaves behind her five children, Marc (Oksana), of Long Grove, Illinois, Susan (Joe Glimme) Kieler, of Cuba City, Dawn (Paul) Arnold, of Oshkosh, Scott (Joni), of Hartford, and Nancy (Bob) Schmitt, of Dickeyville; her grandchildren, Brent (Doneda) and Brian (Christie) Downs, Josh (Lidi), Jeremy (Cindy) and Melissa (Dan Thorp) Kieler and Molly (Mitch) Wellsandt, and Donald, Nicholas and Josie Schmitt; a step grandchild, Igor Pinchuk; and her great-grandchildren, Jonathon and Adri Downs and Danica Kieler. A Mary E. Downs Memorial Fund has been established.