Charles Wray Owen (1930-2019

OWEN, HINRICHSEN, DENNENY

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/8/2019 at 13:01:50

Obituary for Charles Wray Owen
Charles Wray Owen, 89, passed away Sunday morning, July 7, 2019, surrounded by family at The Bird House Hospice Home of Johnson County, Iowa City.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10AM, Thursday, July 11 at St. Mary’s Church with Father Ed Fitzpatrick officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 7 PM at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, where a rosary will be recited at 3:30 PM. Burial with Military Honors will be held in the Old Section of St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Knights of Columbus Building Fund (Iowa City Council #842), The Bird House Hospice Home of Johnson County, or Iowa City Hospice.

He was born in Iowa City April 21, 1930, the son of Lorin Wray Owen and Loretta Hinrichs Owen, lifelong residents of Iowa City. A 1947 graduate of St. Mary’s Catholic High School, he later graduated from Iowa City Commercial College. He enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy from September 1948 to September 1952. He spent most of his career as a bookkeeper for City Electric Supply, retiring after 41 years in 1997.

On April 21, 1956, he married Ann Ilene Denneny at St. Patrick's Church, Iowa City. Ann passed away on March 15, 2008.
Charlie loved his family, kids, dogs, and always gatherings of family and friends. He loved a good joke and never missed a chance to make a bad pun, a trait he used to entertain and cajole until the end, and which will live on through his kids, to everyone's consternation. He and Ann enjoyed travel with their friends and family, making trips throughout the United States, England and Ireland. Charlie liked to bowl, golf, collect stamps, play cards and do crossword puzzles. They were avid fans of Hawkeye football and basketball.

Charlie was a member of St. Mary’s Church, the Knights of Columbus and American Legion Post 17 in Iowa City.

He is survived by his children, Mike Owen (Deb) of West Branch; Tom Owen (Tasha) of Tacoma, Washington; Carol Swartzendruber (Kevin) of Kalona; Patrick Owen (Tina) of Iowa City; and Robert Owen (Lisa) of Iowa City; seven grandchildren: Adam (Johanna), Justin (Jess), Jake, Andrew, Ann, Cody and Drew; and three great-grandchildren, Grace, Bella and Charlie. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann; his sister, Betty (Glenn) Weller and an infant sister.

The family would like to extend thanks to Dr. M. Craig Champion; Mercy Hospital doctors, nurses and staff; Iowa City Hospice staff and, especially, heartfelt gratitude to the supportive staff of The Bird House Hospice Home of Johnson County. Your kindness will never be forgotten.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lensingfuneral.com