The following is the statement of WisDems Chair Mike Tate on the passing of Democratic activist Dode Lowe:
“On behalf of the entire Democratic Party of Wisconsin family I’d like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Dode Lowe upon learning of his passing away today. Dode, along with his wife (the boss) Gretchen are not people that anyone will ever write books about or have buildings named after. They are activists, they spend their time working to improve the plight of working families, they work to organize and they work to elect Democrats to office who made life better for countless Wisconsin families. Dode served with distinction as a proud member of AFSCME Council 40, a member of the Dane County Board and as a member of the Democratic National Committee. He served as the Rules Chairman of the annual state party convention for close to 20 years.
“Along with his equally active wife Gretchen, Dode worked because he believed that all working people should be able to live with dignity, that access to good healthcare is a right not a privilege, that public education can open doors for any child and that the power of organized labor is a force for good that improves the quality of life for everyone in society.
“We are all lucky to have had Dode in our lives. His humor, drive and constant work to help those who needed obstacles lifted and barriers removed so they could pursue their own American dream will live on. There are thousands of people who will never know Dode’s name but whose lives have been made better because of the polices Dode fought for and the people he helped elect.
“Whether you lived in the shadows of our society or a mansion in Maple Bluff, Dode treated everyone the same.
“He will be missed, but as we enter the end of another campaign and thousands of volunteers head out to talk to their neighbors and friends about the values and candidates we believe in, I will be one of many that do it for Dode. Not because he would want that, he surely wouldn’t. But because it’s what he would be doing. Knocking on one door at a time, talking to neighbors about issues and the candidates we can elect to make society a fairer and more just place.
“So for the next 5 days, let’s do this for Dode.”
