Marleene Melrae Dowdy

Marleene Melrae Dowdy, 84, of Louisville Nebraska lost her battle with pneumonia on September 16, 2023. Memorial services will be at Kenesaw Presbyterian Church on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 10:30 AM with Pastor Paul Williams officiating. Visitation will be at 9:30 AM until time of service.  Interment will follow at Kenesaw Cemetery.

Online condolences can be sent to www.apfelfuneralhome.com.

Marleene was born to Esker and Nyla Burling of Kenesaw on April 15, 1939, in Hastings, NE. She was raised on a farm southwest of Kenesaw and graduated from Kenesaw High School. She also attended Hastings College.

Her passion was working in the fields and helping around the farm, which led to her love of all animals, especially horses and dogs. Marleene was a very skilled rider and always considered herself to be a cowgirl.

She later married and raised her greatest accomplishments, her children, Jeff, Wendy and Drew. While raising her children, she served as an elder and led the youth group in the Kenesaw Presbyterian Church for many years. All of Marleene’s many friends could testify to her sass and clever wit, and how she left a lasting impression on everyone she has met – just ask them.

She loved her four grandchildren and a great granddaughter dearly and was very proud of all their accomplishments.

Thanks to her best friend, the late Kathy Strong, she met and married the love of her life Jay Dowdy on September 15, 2005.

She was preceded in death by her parents Esker and Nyla Burling and her husband Jay Dowdy.

Survivors include 3 children, Jeff (Paula) Yoachim of Bellevue, NE, Wendy Wells of Bellevue, NE, Drew Marr of Elgin, OK, 4 grandchildren Brett (Jourdan) Beal of Papillion, NE, Samantha Beal of Lincoln, NE, Cj Marr of Lincoln NE, Jaden McKenzie Marr of Elgin, OK and 1 great granddaughter, Emme Beal of Papillion, NE. In lieu of flowers memorials will be given to Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy.