Alice Mae Owen

     Alice Mae Owen, the daughter of Holger and Mable (Nelson) Knudsen, was born October 10, 1927, in her parent’s home one mile west of Hamlin, Iowa and died November 11, 2022, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 95 years, 1 month, and 1 day.

     Alice was baptized at the Hamlin Lutheran Church in Hamlin, Iowa and confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. She attended rural schools north of Kimballton, Iowa and also in Guthrie County, Iowa. While living in Guthrie County their hogs were allowed to be farrowed in the timber and over time, they became semi-wild which led to many hair-raising experiences. The family moved closer to Audubon and Alice continued to help on the family farm and was employed by the Van Gorder family in Audubon.

      On March 27, 1948, she was united in marriage to Ernest R. Owen at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. They were blessed with one son Ronny. They operated a farm south of Audubon for over 23 years then moved to their present acreage northwest of Exira, Iowa. Alice helped Ernest operate the farm where they grew row crops and raised livestock. Alice raised chickens and sold some of the eggs and butchered chickens. She always had a large vegetable garden and enjoyed canning the produce. In 1975, Alice, took classes and received her certificate as a Certified Nurses Assistant. She started working at the Exira Care Center when it opened in 1975. Ernest died September 21, 1988. Alice lived on the acreage for a number of years, eventually moving into Exira during the winter but always returning to the acreage every summer to mow the lawn and check on the horses and any other livestock that may be there. Alice continued to work at the Exira Care Center until she retired at age 85 having worked at the Exira Care Center for over 38 years. Her passion was helping and caring for all the residents. Ironically, Alice moved into the Exira Care Center in 2013.

     Alice was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon since 1954. She helped with Bible school and was always ready to help in any capacity she could. She always enjoyed keeping her lawn looking fresh and spent many hours mowing the grass up until she entered the Exira Care Center.

     Preceding her in death was her husband, Ernest Owen; her daughter-in-law Nancy Owen; her great granddaughter Karmen Grabill; her parents, her siblings Herman Knudsen, Mildred Knudsen, Luella and husband Art Ball, Mary Jane and husband Richard Andersen, and Shirley Barrnes; and her sister-in-law Martha Knudsen.

     Survivors include her son Ron Owen of Audubon, Iowa; her grandchildren DeEtte and husband Troy Grabill of Manning, Iowa, and Derek and wife DarylLynn Ridgeway of John’s Island, South Carolina; her great grandchildren Ben Grabill and fiancée Ashley Steffes of Adel, Iowa, Isaac and wife Courtney Grabill of Manning, Iowa, Eliza and husband Blake Cadwell of Manilla, Iowa, Richard and wife Amy Ware of Bernardsville. New Jersey, and Nicole Ware of Boulder, Colorado; 5 great-great grandchildren; her brother Ivan Knudsen of Newton, Kansas; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

     The family will greet friends Wednesday afternoon, November 16, 2022, from 12:00 noon until the time of the service at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa. The funeral service will be conducted by Reverend Philip Beisswenger at 1:30 P.M. on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon. The casket bearers will be Ben Grabill, Isaac Grabill, James Barnes, Jonathan Barnes, Richard Andersen, and David Nelson.