January 4, 1929 – October 24, 2025
Lowell D. Cannell, 96, of Sumner, died Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, October 31, 2025, at the Methodist Church in Sumner with Rev. Mike Jager officiating. Inurnment with military rites will be at Union Mound Cemetery in Sumner. A visitation will precede services at the Church on Friday starting at 10:00 AM. Memorials may be made to the family for later designation or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Lowell Duane, son of Dorsey and Mamie Margaret (Fridley) Cannell was born January 4, 1929, at the family’s home, Banks Township, rural Fayette County. He was baptized and confirmed at Union Evangelical Church, rural Sumner. Lowell attended country school at Banks Township #7 and graduated from Sumner High School in 1947. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge in 1954, Lowell returned to the area and began working at John Deere & Co. in Waterloo. On July 25, 1955, he was united in marriage with Kathryn Ford at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein. To this union three daughters were born, Sharon, Jean, and Karen. Lowell farmed in the rural Fairbank area for thirty five years, retiring in 1991. Upon retirement, he and Kathryn moved into Sumner. Lowell was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in Sumner and Thomas E. Woods Post #223, American Legion of Sumner. He enjoyed golfing, pheasant hunting, gardening, playing cards and was an avid reader of the local newspaper.
Lowell is survived by his wife, Kathryn of Sumner; three daughters, Sharon (Dan) Collins of The Villages, Florida, Jean (Mark) Siefken of Janesville, and Karen (Chris) Milligan of Denver; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Duane (Dorothy) Ford and Joan Ford, both of Oelwein; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings and their spouses, Vaylerd, Percy (Roberta), Forrest, Olive (Paul) Bassett, Zinita (Frank) Kirchhoff, and Alberta Kirchhoff; and brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul (Germaine) Ford and Leo Ford.
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