Carol Jean (Rudd) Lowney

Carol was born on July 3, 1928, to Carlos and Florida (Groleau) Rudd in Menominee. She spent part of her early youth in Eben Junction where her father worked for the railroad but returned to Menominee with her family for her later schooling.

Carol attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School in Marinette Wisconsin where she graduated as class president and valedictorian in 1946. She attended her 65th class reunion in 2011.

After high school, Carol went to work for Bell Telephone, traveling the U.P. observing operators for quality customer service. It was on one of these trips to Houghton that she met the love of her life, Bob Lowney.

Bob and Carol were married on June 17, 1951, in Menominee. They shared many great memories raising their family of five and traveling together. He preceded her in death on April 3, 2007.

Carol was very active in the community serving on several boards including the Portage Lake District Library, the Copper Country Workshop, St. Ignatius Parish Council and many more.

The majority of her working years were spent in the Houghton-Portage Township School system, where she was affectionately known as the ‘lunch money lady’ and ultimately served for years in her dream job as the elementary school librarian. It brought her great pleasure to ‘put the right book in the right student’s hands’.

Carol was an active member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church of Houghton.

She is survived by her five children, Barbara (John) Klass of Post Falls, Idaho, Nancy (John) DeBacker of Hillsdale, Mary Jane Lowney of Hancock, Bob (Pam) Lowney, Jr. of Edenton, North Carolina, and Neil (Kelley) Lowney of Blaine, Minnesota; 13 grandchildren, Angie (Art) Robinson, Heather (Terry) Stephenson, Jessica (David) Pearson, Jared (Liz) DeBacker, Ian and Adam DeBacker, Nick (Kristine) Mayra, Jeff (Lesley) Mayra, Lyndsey and Alex Aho, Katie (Tyler) Dukes, Robin (Dave) Lankton and Christy Lowney; 15 great-grandchildren and one more expected in October; a sister-in-law, Theresa Holombo of Dollar Bay; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and her second family, the Bill and Mina Brotherton clan.

The family would like to thank all of her wonderful friends who made her life so full and helped her navigate as her mobility became more difficult, especially her neighbor and friend, Josie Cassady, her Scrabble buddies and her Aquafit family.

Donations can be made to the charity of your choice. Some of Carol’s favorites were the Houghton Skatepark, Michigan Tech Women’s Basketball, the Omega House and the St. Ignatius Building Fund.

Friends may call at the Plowe Funeral Home of Houghton on Friday, September 9, 2016, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2016, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church of Houghton.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2016, at 11 a.m. at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church.

The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes of Houghton are assisting the family with the arrangements.