Obit: Lowman, Archie J. (1927 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bockeloh, Brown, Burck, Christen, Clausen, Heggesta, Lampton, Litzkow, Lowman, Otto, Troxel

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 2/28/2018

Lowman, Archie J. (10 JAN 1927 - 24 FEB 2018)

Archie J. Lowman, 91, passed away on Feb. 24, 2018 in Madison.

There will be a visitation from 12-2 p.m. on Friday, March 2, at the Cress Center, 6021 University Ave., Madison, WI 53705, followed with a memorial service at 2 pm and a luncheon.

Archie was born on Jan. 10, 1927 in Luddington, the son of Janet Lowman. He married Mildred Burck on Nov. 12, 1947 in Menomonee and she preceded him in death on Jan.1, 1993. He then married Betty Heggesta on Jan. 12, 1995 in Kenosha.

Archie and Millie raised their family in Kenosha where Archie was a tool and die maker for Anaconda American Brass for 40 years. Archie taught himself how to play the guitar and with Millie playing the accordion, they would play music at barn dances. They enjoyed traveling and spending time camping at the Mondeaux flowage in the Chequamegon National Forest where they acted as campground hosts for several years. After Millie’s passing, Archie met Betty at Mondeaux. He was a ski jumper with the Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, Ill. As a member of the Federation of International Skiing, he was a ski-jumping judge and later an Olympic ski-jumping judge. He is in the U.S. Masters Ski Jumping Hall of Fame in Fox River Grove, Ill. Archie played and coached softball in Kenosha for 20 years for Tirabassi’s Softball Club earning a Rotary Club recognition award in 2017.

Archie also played the dobro and mandolin and enjoyed blue grass and old-time music. He was a member of Wisconsin Old Time Fiddlers Association and would travel around Madison playing music for the enjoyment and entertainment of others. His special song for Betty was Wild Cat. He organized the Archie Fest Bluegrass Festival for 14 years at the Mondeaux flowage. A variety of musicians were invited to play and the event gathered large crowds at Mondeaux. Archie and Betty also spent their summers living at the cabin at Mondeaux, which they enjoyed very much. Archie was a World War II veteran serving in the Navy and was thrilled to go on the honor flight in 2011.

Archie is survived by his wife, Betty Heggesta; son, John (Kathy) Lowman of Racine; daughter, Karen (Paul) Brown of Kenosha; step-children, Teri (Sam) Christen of Brooklyn, Todd (Cathy) Heggesta of Portage and Tami Otto of Mazomanie; grandchildren, Michael Bockeloh (Kim Clausen), Timothy Lowman, Jeffrey (Hillary) Lowman and Melissa (Chad) Lampton, all of Racine, John Heggesta and Ellen Heggesta, all of Portage, Gordon (Erin) Christen of Durham, N.C., Rebecca (Cole) Troxel of Sauk City, Kasey Otto of Mazomanie and Taylor Christen of Iowa City; and eight great-grandchildren.

Archie was preceded in death by his mother, Janet Lowman; brothers, Harvey and Matthew Lowman; and a sister, Elaine Litzkow.

Please share a memory at www.CressFuneralService.com.