Pat was born December 25, 1937 in Kennan. She loved having a Christmas birthday, because the family always had visitors on that day. Pat went to Four Corners (one-room school), then to Phillips High School, graduating in 1955. She worked as a typist in Minneapolis for a summer, then decided to go to Normal School in Medford to become a teacher. She taught in the rural school of Kennan (2 years) and in Catawba (1 year). If needed, she would discipline the younger children by making them sit on her lap. While attending Normal School, she was introduced to her friend/classmate’s brother Ed, who later became her husband. Pat and Ed were married on October 17, 1959 at St. Michaels Church in Kennan. They together were active members of the Holy Rosary Church in Owen. She hired out to paint many homes and did house cleaning for many years. She was an amazing wife, mother and grandmother. She loved to visit family, tat, cook and bake. When her children came home from school, they could always look forward to a fresh baked treat. Her love of life was her family.
Pat is survived by her children: Geoff (Missy) Dowden, Florence (Glen) LaBeau, Dan (Sheri) Dowden, Bonnie (Dave) Eloranta, Tim (Dana) Dowden, Amy (Brittany) Dowden; 14 grandchildren: Greg Dowden, Chris Dowden, Michael Dowden, Jenni Dowden, Danielle Griesmer, Lisa LaBeau, Taylor Dowden, Brandon Dowden, Cameron Dowden, Rebecca Gazapian, Rachel Eloranta, Ryan Eloranta, Mari Dowden, Alex Dowden; 10 great-grandchildren and counting; her sisters, Millie Kennedy, Janet (Bill) Griglak, and Lorraine (Dave) Baratka; sister-in-law, Diana Timmers; and brother-in-law, Ron Runnheim.
She is preceded in death by her husband Ed; parents Matthias and Florence Timmers; brothers Cliff (Rosalie) Timmers and Matt Timmers; sisters Marion (Tony) Groothousen and Florence Runnheim; and brother-in-law Adrian Kennedy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Father Stanislaus Michael Antony officiating. Interment to follow at Riverside Cemetery. A Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the church. The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Owen is entrusted with the arrangements.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to Dr. Leon and his oncology team at Marshfield Clinic, the Abbotsford Health Care Center, and Heartland Hospice. They all made mom’s last days/weeks/months much easier for her to bear. THANK YOU.
Family and friends may express condolences online at www.maurinaschilling.com.
