Owen R. Morgan 1922-2004

CARTER, MORGAN

Posted By: michael (email)
Date: 4/13/2004 at 12:55:22

Owen R. Morgan, 81, formerly of Coralville, died suddenly Sunday, April 11, 2004 at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30am on Saturday at Lensing’s Oak Hill in Coralville with Reverend Catherine A. Luck officiating. The family will greet friends from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Burial will be at a later date in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association.

Owen was born July 21, 1922 in Glenwood, Iowa, the son of Owen Ray, Sr. & Jean Pauline (Carter) Morgan. His parents moved to Iowa City when he was two years old. He was a
longtime resident of Coralville, having first moved there in 1931. The sign on Highway 6 read “Coralville, population 240”. He attended rural school in Coralville, which is now the Johnson County Heritage Museum on 5th Street. He graduated from University High School
where he served as captain of the football team and lettered in every sport. He was a leader in his class – having graduated in 1940. He attended the University of Iowa before joining the Navy in 1942 – serving in the Pacific aboard the U.S.S. Sebec until the end of the war.

Owen served as treasurer of the Coralville Independent School District for five years and worked at First National Bank in Iowa City as a teller for 17 years. In 1958 he went to the University of Iowa working in the Athletic Business Office – spending one year as Athletic
Business Manager at Western University in Macomb, Illinois – returning to the University of Iowa working in the Business Office and retiring in 1986.

In 1976 in Iowa City, Owen married Margaret Burdick Rinehart and moved back to Coralville where he resided before going to the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa due to health reasons. Owen loved to read and work crossword puzzles daily. He bowled in the Iowa City leagues for 40 years – receiving many trophies and was on the team that won the Iowa City Tournament. He enjoyed golf too, mostly enjoying the fresh air and chasing the little white ball. Owen loved & enjoyed with enthusiasm his membership in Golden K Kiwanis Club. He helped his wife Margaret organized the July 4th Parade and the Coralville’s Aisle of Lights. The luminaries he really enjoyed most--, decorating the house, placing luminaries on the neighborhood streets and with Margaret, being Coralville’s Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus for many years and treating 1000 kids with candy canes. He said, “It’s most gratifying doing things for others and giving back to Coralville anything I can do to make my town I love better; We have touched more lives in one evening during the Aisle of Lights than some people touch in a lifetime.”

Owen was an avid Hawk fan, attending all football and basketball games, no matter how bad the weather

Owen is survived by his wife Margaret of Iowa City, his brother, Paul Carter Morgan of West Haven, CT.; two sons, Charles Rinehart of Iowa City and Melvin Rinehart & his wife Diane of North Liberty and two nephews.

Owen was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Allan.