George W. Owen, Sr.

George Wilde Owen Sr., the son of Alfred (Fred) and Lillian Johnsen Owen, was born January 21, 1929 at his parents home south of Viola Center, Ia and died May 1, 2009 at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Ia. at the age of 80 years, 3 months and 10 days.
George was baptized at Our Saviors Lutheran Church by Pastor Hegedorn and confirmed by Pastor Erhart Nielsen. He attended Audubon community schools where he was active in band. He then was employed as a mechanic at the Chevrolet garage in Audubon and Exira. On December 1, 1950 George was inducted into the U.S. Army. During his tour of duty he served with the Army Engineers in Korea. On February 18, 1951 he was united in marriage to Geneva Jessen at her parents home in Exira. Four children Rosalie, George W. Owen Jr., Sharolyn, and Joe were born to this union.
He was honorably discharged on October 23, 1952. George returned to the area and worked as a farm hand for a short time then was a station attendant in Atlantic. George contracted polio in August of 1953. Following his rehabilitation he learned shoe repair. George began working in Malvern, Ia., then Atlantic for a short time, then moved his business to Audubon. In addition to operating his shoe repair business he hauled anhydrous ammonia for Christensen Fertilizer for a short time then also worked as a bus driver for the Audubon Community schools. He drove the bus route until he was forced to retire from bus driving in February of 1988.
In 1969 George married Waldean Jackson Kaiser at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Audubon. He helped raise Waldeans children Ellen, Mary, Patrick and Vickie, as his own.
George showed horses from 1969 until he moved to his present home in 1994 and continued his shoe repair until he retired in November of 2001.
George was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Audubon. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and U.F.W. He was a member of the Promise Keepers, was a volunteer driver taking veterans to appointments at the V.A. Hospital in Omaha and did other volunteer work. He was a lifetime member of the Audubon County Saddle Club and had served as President.
Preceding him in death were his daughter; Rosalie Mae Owen; his parents; his brother: August Owen; and sister Lucille Wiges.
Survivors include his children: George Wilde Jr. and wife Kathy Owen of Ashland, NE Sharolyn Marie and husband James Devine of Papillion, NE, Joe Lee and wife Kim Owen of Council Bluffs, IA; his step-children Ellen and husband Paul Kearney of Creston, IA; Mary and husband Craig Smith of Hastings, IA; Patrick and wife Becky Kaiser of Audubon, IA; Vickie and husband Tom Gardner of Audubon, IA, his grandchildren: George W. III and wife Courtney Owen from Millard, NE; Ryan and wife Cheryl Devine of Colorado Springs, CO, Joanne and husband Rex Moseley of Oklahoma City, OK, Brandon Owen of Council Bluffs, IA, Joey Owen of Council Bluffs, IA; Regan Peppers of Glenwood, IA, Melissa and husband Peter Kloeckner of Silver City, IA; Cory Smith of Elliott, IA; Sara Kaiser of Orlando, FL; Adam Kaiser of Audubon, IA; Matthew Gardner of Exira, IA; Ann Marie Gardner of Maryville, MO, Sarah and husband Frank Howell of Cedar Rapids, IA; Michael Kearney of Creston, IA; his great grandchildren: Rosalie, Meredith, Derek Devine; Krystopher Moseley; Hayley Kloeckner, Launie Smith, Bailey Owen, Jennifer McFarland,Natalie and Meredith Howell; his brother: Bernard and wife Bessie Owen of Audubon, his sister-in-law: Elaine Owen all of Audubon, IA. Extended family Linda Possehn and Heather and Devin Possehn all of Audubon, IA; Linda and husband Mike Downing of Guthrie Center, IA; nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Monday evening at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Bradley Ketcham on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at 10:30 A.M. at the St. Johns Lutheran Church in Audubon, IA.