Patrick Allen Lower

Patrick Allen Lower, age 68, of Aledo, IL died July 2, 2018 in rural Aledo, IL. Services are Saturday at 10:00 AM at Speer Funeral Home in Aledo. Burial will be in the Aledo Cemetery where graveside military services will be conducted. Visitation is Friday from 4 to 8 PM at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Fulton Steamer Football or Mercer County Athletic Boosters.
He was born May 17, 1950, in Rock Island, IL, the son of Lloyd “Bud” and Kathryn (Tolliver) Lower. He married his high school sweetheart, Judy Hutchins, on May 27, 1972 in Aledo at the Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Patrick was a life-long resident of the Aledo area. He graduated from Aledo High School in 1968 and served in the U.S. Army from May of 1970 to December of 1971. He was stationed in Korea and promoted to the rank of Sgt. E-5, in charge of the Motor Pool of the 833rd Ordinance Engineer Division.

He worked in the corrugated container industry at CCA and Miller Container for 32 years as Vice President of Production. He also worked as Plant Supt. at General Grind and Machine, Aledo from 2000 until his retirement in 2014.

Mr. Lower raised Angus beef cattle; this was a very important aspect of his life. He was an avid sports fan of the Aledo Green Dragons, Mercer County Golden Eagles, and Fulton Steamers. His memberships included the Y.M.C.A., the American Legion Post 121, and AARP. His life was devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was immensely proud of their accomplishments and was their biggest fan.

Survivors include his wife; daughter and son-in-law, Nikki and Jim Taylor, Aledo; son and daughter-in-law, Patrick M. and Rae Beth Lower, Fulton, IL; grandchildren, Ty, Tess, Tatum, and Teagan Taylor, Aledo and Patrick R. and Paige Lower, Fulton; brothers, Joe (Laurie) Lower, Ed (Denise) Lower, and Matt (Bev) Lower, Aledo; and sisters, Vicki (Bill) Bluedorn, Milan, IL, and Sue Bieri, Aledo, mother-in-law, Lorraine Hutchins, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Thomas J. Lower and father-in-law Darrell Hutchins.