Nicholas McDowell

Nicholas Adam McDowell, age 43, passed from the loving arms of his family into His heavenly realm on Sunday January 16, 2022. He was born in Rockford to Brenda (Nance) McDowell and Charles McDowell.

Nick loved camping and fishing and was so proud when he caught his first fish at Lake Carlton. He looked forward to being with his friends at OCEC and Village of Progress. Special Olympics was an important part of Nick’s life, earning numerous awards for bowling, softball toss, and foot and wheelchair races.

He adored pizza, bacon, donuts, and Salisbury steak; the Dukes of Hazard, ShaNaNa and “The Fonz”.

Celebrating events with family made Nick happy; but his favorite place to be was his bedroom.

Nick is deeply missed by his mom, Brenda Nance Donaldson of Oregon; siblings, Chasity (Michael Harrolle) Nance of Stillman Valley and Patrick McDowell of Oregon; grandma, Sandra Nance of Machesney Park; aunts and uncles, Valerie (Leslie) Bartholomew, Greg (Cindy) Nance, and Melanie Nance; several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins; wonderful friends Norman and Irene Branscomb and Kim Dickinson; also siblings Nona Sanchez McDowell of Texas, William McDowell of Texas, and many other relatives. Nicholas is predeceased by his father, stepdad Jeffrey L. Donaldson, grandpa Gerald Nance, and paternal grandma “Moses” Nona McNeil.

Our deepest gratitude to Serenity Hospice and Home for their care and support.

On Friday February 4, 2022 visitation will begin at 3:00 PM followed by a memorial service at 4:30 PM at Farrell Holland Gale Funeral Home, 110 South 7th Street, Oregon, IL. Memorials in Nick’s name may be donated to The Village of Progress, Special Olympics, or Serenity Hospice & Home.