Owen, Dr. William "Doc", DVM (1928 - 2011)

BAKER, LEONARD, OWEN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 2/25/2012 at 12:11:14

Dr. William "Doc" Owen, DVM, was born Nov.19, 1928 to Mrs. Pearl Maud Baker Owen and her recently deceased husband Clyde Kerr Owen. Raised by a single mother, Bill and siblings Robert, Mildred, Kenneth and Helen attended Bussey School system and lived just South of Bussey, IA on their family farm.
After graduating, Bill worked for both Union Pacific Railroad and John Deere in Ottumwa IA. On Sept 27, 1946 Bill joined the Regular Army Air Forces as a cryptographer.
While stateside in Washington DC, Bill met, and later married, JoAnne Leonard of Mingo Iowa. She was, at the time, serving her country as a secretary for the FBI. The two moved to Iowa State University Housing "Pammel Court," taking Bill's GI Bill and exchanging it for an education.
Dr. Owen graduated ISU in 1955 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Owen and his growing family eventually settled in Maxwell, Iowa where they hung a shingle and started practicing Veterinary medicine.
The Owen family purchased their farm on the East side of Maxwell where Doc and "Annie" started their cow calf operation. The herd started as all Hereford cattle and was later cross, by artificial insemination, to one of Iowa's premier Limousine herds. Doc, after leaving practice, worked as a District Veterinarian for the State of Iowa and then to work instructing at Iowa State University as an Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine. Education, still fundamental to him, he took a year sabbatical and graduated from University California Davis in with a master's degree in epidemiology. Doc retired with full tenure from ISU in 1991.
Dr. William James Owen is survived by his wife of 61 years, JoAnne; four daughters: Debra, Jennifer, Patrice, Pamela; two sons: William and Joseph; their spouses; 18 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 24th, at the Bacon Funeral Home in Maxwell, IA.
Dr. Owen's Celebration of Life Service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, at the United Methodist Church in Maxwell IA.
Interment will be in the Ashton Cemetery near Ashton Chapel, Ashton Wildwood Park in Jasper County IA.
Source: Des Moines Register; May 22, 2011

Funeral services for Dr. William James Owen, DVM will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at the Collins-Maxwell High School, 400 Metcalf Street in Maxwell. Vistitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. this evening at Bacon Funeral Home in Maxwell.
Source: Des Moines Register; May 24, 2011