Mary Ellen (Kluever) Lowder

Mary Ellen (Kluever) Lowder, 61, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Friday, December 3, 2021, at her home.

Mary Ellen was born on April 30, 1960, in Cherokee, Iowa, and adopted by Carl C. and Ruth (Kopecky) Kluever of Atlantic. The family lived on a farm and later moved to their home on Plum Street after her dad’s death when she was nine. As a kid they took numerous vacations with other family members and she loved to tell the story of her and her cousin sneaking out of the hotel room and heading down to the hotel restaurant for frothy grape juice over vanilla ice cream. One of her favorite trips was to New York City and touring the Empire State Building. Mary Ellen graduated from Atlantic High School in the Class of 1978. Following graduation, she enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Upon her honorable discharge she returned to Atlantic and started her family. During this time, she worked at The Office Bar and Grill; recently saying she would love to just have one more Office Burger. Mary Ellen also lived in Audubon, Chicago, Las Vegas, Atlantic again for a short time, and Fontanelle before returning to Atlantic in 2014. While living in Atlantic from 2000 – 2002, she partnered with Robert Watson in owning the Center Street Tap, later the Walnut Street Tap. Throughout her moves she continued her education at local community colleges. While living in Las Vegas she had what she would say was one her favorite jobs as a receptionist and order taker at Mobile Storage.

She loved to garden and canned countless amounts of produce through the years; canning not only what she grew but also what she purchased from produce auctions, her favorite one being in Lamoni. Mary Ellen was big on food preservation! She enjoyed sewing; cross stitch and baby blankets being what she made the most of. Mary Ellen was an avid reader; once a good book was in her hands it was hard for her not to finish it in a few sittings. She was currently reading the “Outlander” series, having read all 4 and was impatiently waiting for the next book to be released. Mary Ellen shared her love of reading with her children, encouraging them to read as kids; Little House on the Prairie being what her daughter, Chevonne remembers reading. She had a knack for baking and made some of the most delicious bread.

Mary Ellen had a heart of gold; opening her door to anyone including her kids' friends. She would help others even if that meant giving up things for herself. Mary Ellen never hesitated to tell you what she thought though and if you were wrong, she let you know it. She loved her family dearly and would have done anything to have at least one “Walton Family Dinner” with them, everyone happy!

Mary Ellen will be deeply missed by her daughters, Chevonne (Jason) Karol and Dessa (Wesley) Goodlett; sons, Carl “CJ” James Soglin and Roy Wayne Lowder II; grandchildren, Jordan Thomas, Alexander Evans, Quintin Soglin, Izabelle Karol, Elijah Karol, Phoenix Karol, Evelyn Karol, Hayden Karol, Amethyst Soglin, James Soglin, Natasha Soglin and Aubrey Goodlett; and all of those that she loved like her own children.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl Kluever and Ruth Toothman and step-dad, Maurice Toothman.

Visitation with the family present will be held from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 7th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 8th at Roland Funeral Home. The service will be recorded and available on the funeral home website by end of day Thursday. Burial, with military honors by the Atlantic Color Guard, will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for later designation to causes that were close to Mary Ellen’s heart.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Mary Ellen’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.