Melvin Owen

Mel Owen was born in Iowa City on September 17th, 1947. He was blessed with two sets of parents- Bob and Norma Church for 13 years and Lewis and Delores Thompson. He died on January 27th, 2010, at the age of 62. At his request, no funeral service will be held. However, a gathering of family and friends will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. Saturday, January 30th, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home followed by a celebration of his life at Toms Cue and Brew. He was well-known for his expertise in concrete finishing, working for Brycon Construction and the last 14 years at Woodruff Construction out of Ft. Dodge. He was an avid Earnhardt Sr. fan, loved NASCAR racing, muscle cars and the Antique Roadshow. He also treasured camping, fishing and canoe trips on Labor Day weekends filled his summer. The light of his life was his six year old granddaughter, Trinity. She was his fishing buddy, took him to the park, taught him how to shop for toys and filled his life with lots of adventures. He taught her how to ride a bike, cook, bake, and build birdhouses and even how to use his tools safely. She was papis shadow. Grandchildren often referred to his as a-pa, papa and papi. Left to mourn is his life long love Deborah, two children: Jennifer and Laura, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three children from a previous marriage: Michelle, Darel and Robert Bobby, eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and another son, Corey Scott in Arizona. In death he has rejoined his parents Bob and Norma, Lewis and Delores, in-laws Orval and Doris Cullor, siblings-in-law: Ron and Linda Cullor, Terry Cullor, Sr. Louise Cabrero, Cal Darrow and Jerry Zimmerman.