Deborah “Debby” Pellowe died on 10 April 2025 at Lenawee Medical Care Facility of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. A life-long Adrian resident, she was born 22 July 1947 to Marian Louwilla “Mary Lou” (Lutz) and Edward C. Pellowe and grew up on Westwood Drive. Some of Debby’s favorite childhood memories included summers spent at the family cottage on Round Lake, riding her bike through town, and sledding down Francouer Hill in the winter. Debby’s idea of paradise was time spent on Mackinac Island where she worked for two summers during college, and where she visited countless times over the years.
Debby graduated from Adrian High School in 1965, and went on to attend Western Michigan University, where she graduated in 1969. During college, she met and married Paul Knudstrup, with whom she welcomed her only child.
Throughout the 1970s – 1980s, Debby worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a position few women held at the time. After retiring from service calls, she served as an EMT instructor, coordinating mock disasters and teaching CPR to groups throughout the county. Starting in 1976, Debby took a second job as a media specialist at the Lenawee I.S.D. Vocational Technical Center (“Vo-tec”), writing and producing videos for student instruction. She spent the last ten years as the center’s recruiter, where she had the opportunity to visit every middle and high school in the county. She thoroughly enjoyed helping others find a fulfilling career path with Vo-Tec’s programs. Debby’s own academic aspirations were fulfilled in 1994 when she earned a Masters in Social Work from Siena Heights University.
Debby retired after 31 years at Vo-Tec and stayed involved with her community by serving on the Mayor’s Youth Council, as an assistant instructor at Siena Heights University, and on the Red Cross Board of Directors. However, none of these roles were as fulfilling as that of being Grandma to her only grandchild, Oliver, with whom she shared a very special bond.
Debby is survived by daughter Kiersten Gawronski, grandson Oliver Chapman, brother Christopher (Nancy) Pellowe, niece Amanda (Todd) Pelak, and nephews Michael (Tina) Pellowe and Benjamin (Kierston) Pellowe, as well as several grand-nieces and -nephews, and a large circle of dear friends. Her family takes comfort in knowing that Debby is now spending her time as she wished: on the porch of the Windemere Hotel on Mackinac Island with a glass of Diet Pepsi and a Virginia Slims 120 cigarette in hand and, most importantly, a cat sleeping on her lap.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff of Lenawee Medical Care Facility (Debby’s home for the last year), the supportive nurses from Elara Caring (Hospice), and the kind staff at ProMedica Hickman Hospital.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, April 21, 2025 at Wagley Funeral Home, Adrian: 10:00 a.m. Visitation, 11:00 a.m. Celebration of Life Program, followed by a light luncheon, concluding with 1:00 p.m. burial at Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Debby’s favorite charities: The Lenawee Humane Society or the Edward C. Pellowe Scholarship Fund at Adrian College, named for Debby’s father.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.
Debby graduated from Adrian High School in 1965, and went on to attend Western Michigan University, where she graduated in 1969. During college, she met and married Paul Knudstrup, with whom she welcomed her only child.
Throughout the 1970s – 1980s, Debby worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a position few women held at the time. After retiring from service calls, she served as an EMT instructor, coordinating mock disasters and teaching CPR to groups throughout the county. Starting in 1976, Debby took a second job as a media specialist at the Lenawee I.S.D. Vocational Technical Center (“Vo-tec”), writing and producing videos for student instruction. She spent the last ten years as the center’s recruiter, where she had the opportunity to visit every middle and high school in the county. She thoroughly enjoyed helping others find a fulfilling career path with Vo-Tec’s programs. Debby’s own academic aspirations were fulfilled in 1994 when she earned a Masters in Social Work from Siena Heights University.
Debby retired after 31 years at Vo-Tec and stayed involved with her community by serving on the Mayor’s Youth Council, as an assistant instructor at Siena Heights University, and on the Red Cross Board of Directors. However, none of these roles were as fulfilling as that of being Grandma to her only grandchild, Oliver, with whom she shared a very special bond.
Debby is survived by daughter Kiersten Gawronski, grandson Oliver Chapman, brother Christopher (Nancy) Pellowe, niece Amanda (Todd) Pelak, and nephews Michael (Tina) Pellowe and Benjamin (Kierston) Pellowe, as well as several grand-nieces and -nephews, and a large circle of dear friends. Her family takes comfort in knowing that Debby is now spending her time as she wished: on the porch of the Windemere Hotel on Mackinac Island with a glass of Diet Pepsi and a Virginia Slims 120 cigarette in hand and, most importantly, a cat sleeping on her lap.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff of Lenawee Medical Care Facility (Debby’s home for the last year), the supportive nurses from Elara Caring (Hospice), and the kind staff at ProMedica Hickman Hospital.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, April 21, 2025 at Wagley Funeral Home, Adrian: 10:00 a.m. Visitation, 11:00 a.m. Celebration of Life Program, followed by a light luncheon, concluding with 1:00 p.m. burial at Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Debby’s favorite charities: The Lenawee Humane Society or the Edward C. Pellowe Scholarship Fund at Adrian College, named for Debby’s father.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.
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