OWEN, Gomer

OWEN, DAVIS, DIETSCH

Posted By: Nancy (email)
Date: 9/22/2004 at 09:59:07

September 16, 2004 The Wapello Republican, accompanied by a photo. I am not related and have no further information.

Gomer Owen

Gomer Owen, 90, rural Columbus Junction, Iowa, died Monday, September 13, 2004, at the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, September 17, at the Stacy-Lewis Funeral Home in Columbus Junction. Pastor David Stoufer will officiate. Pallbearers will be Robert Mehaffy, Eric Mehaffy, Jason Mehaffy, Leon Staff, Bill Mehaffy, Steven Dietsch, Alan Dietsch, Roger Dietsch and Tom Gerken. Honorary nieces and nephews are Constance and Junior Wanberg and family, Owen and Judy Menard and family, Beth Menard Hickey and family, David Menard and family, Larry Owen and family, and Richard Owen and family.

Burial will be in the Cambrian Cemetery (Louisa County, Iowa).

Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home.

A memorial has been established at the funeral home.

Sympathy notes may be left to the family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

Gomer was born January 11, 1914, on the family farm in Louisa County, the son of William and Edith Elizabeth Davis Owen. On September 26, 1942, Gomer was united in marriage to Iva Dietsch at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Pleasant Grove, Iowa.

He attended Yankee School, graduated from Cotter School and studied two years at Parsons College, during which time he was a member of the Parsons Traveling Chorus. He graduated from the University of Iowa with BA and BS degrees in 1931 and taught high school several years in Olds and Dallas Center, Iowa.

Gomer served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He began his civilian career with Deere and Company in the Engineering Department in June 1946. He held various positions during his many years with the Company, including Tooling Coordinator and Engineering Data Investigator, before being named Data Coordinator, the position he held upon retiring on June 29, 1979, after 33 years of service.

He was a member of the Louisa County Farm Bureau, the John Deere Male Chorus, the Moline Square Dancing Group, the Cambrian Cemetery Board and the Bethel Methodist Church in Moline, Illinois. He also was an active member of the Cotter (Iowa) Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed working with Columbus Junction Theatre projects, singing and writing poetry.

He will be deeply missed by his wife Iva of Columbus Junction and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Emerys and Elwyn; and two sisters, Gladys Owen and Grace Menard.