Craig Owen

Craig Richard Owen, age 77, of Audubon, passed away on May 12 at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Craig was born in Carroll, Iowa, on August 29, 1948, the son of Richard and Betty (Eddy) Owen. He was baptized and confirmed at the Audubon Presbyterian Church. He attended grade school in Viola and graduated from Audubon High School with the Class of 1967.

Growing up on the farm, Craig loved building motorized bikes, fishing, and working on engines. He enjoyed hunting and trapping with neighborhood friends and sold pelts for extra spending money. After doing chores for the neighbor, he was given a 1929 Model A, which he proudly used as his high school vehicle.

Craig attended Central Community College in Fort Dodge, where he studied diesel mechanics. He later enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and completed a two‑year training program in cryptology in San Antonio, Texas, before serving in Vietnam.

Craig married Janet Peck on August 4, 1973, and together they welcomed three children: Jason, Hope, and William. They made their home on the family farm, where they fed cattle, raised row crops, and sold seed corn. In 1996, Craig helped Jason start a welding business on the farm. He welded rafters, constructed buildings, and made deliveries across the country. Craig and Jan moved to Audubon in 2007, and he continued working in the family business until his retirement in 2009.

Craig enjoyed trap shooting, meeting friends for coffee, and reading about history and current events. Even in retirement, he continued his lifelong love of building and creating. He crafted a 25-foot aluminum boat and built a single‑engine airplane from scratch. He was an active member of the Dedham Legion, where he served as commander, and later continued his service with the Audubon VFW as commander. He provided military honors for many veterans and helped plan Memorial Day services at the cemetery.

He cherished time with his grandchildren, loved talking about business with his children, and valued the freedom to live life on his own terms.

Craig is preceded in death by his parents and his brother‑in‑law, Dennis Watt.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Owen; his sisters and brother‑in‑law, Jann (David) Wilson and Julie Watt; his children, Jason Owen, Hope (Jerome) Jensen, and William Owen; and his grandchildren, Ruanne Brinker‑Owen, Luke Brinker‑Owen, Gwen (Taylor) Zimmerman, and Audrey (Keegan Deist) Jensen.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, IA, with Rev. Carla Evers officiating. A luncheon will be held in the Church's Fellowship Hall following the service. A private interment will be held at a later date.

Visitation with the family will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Audubon.

Memorials may be directed to the Owen Family, to be designated at a later date in his honor. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon.