Obituary for John Joseph Owen
John Owen
April 22, 1931 - March 18, 2023
It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of John Joseph Owen on March 18, 2023 at the age of 91 years, in Calgary, AB. John was born on April 22, 1931 in Windsor, ON; the second son of Leonard C. Owen and Marjorie Gerlach Owen.
John’s early adult life was spent on the road as a travelling insurance adjuster for Wawanesa Mutual, with stints in Flin Flon, MB, Regina, SK and finally, in 1955, to Calgary, where he became a partner in England Insurance.
He married Betty Lou Soden in 1953 and added son, Jeff and daughters, Lauri and Janet to the family. He was remarried in 1979 to Maria (Rita) Heine and gained another daughter, Patricia.
During a career that spanned over 60 years and started in the insurance industry, he added businesses in purebred livestock sales management, livestock insurance and printing, with Rita at his side for many of those years.
John loved to golf and was a member of Earl Grey Golf Club for over 50 years, holding positions on the Board as President, Captain and Director. He was instrumental in bringing the 65 Roses tournament for cystic fibrosis to Earl Grey and was involved with the Vipond, which supports the DDRC. He was active through most of his life in the Calgary Cosmopolitan Club and the insurance industry group Blue Goose International.
Rita and John enjoyed many happy years travelling to holiday homes in Fairmont, BC, Scottsdale, AZ, and in earlier years, family vacations at Lake Windermere with his young children. Business also gave John and Rita the opportunity to visit and enjoy many places in the world. His love of flying led him to obtain a private pilot’s license, and John flew his own planes for many years for pleasure and business travel.
He could always be counted on for a steady hand, sound advice and unconditional love and support for his children. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought him so much joy, and he was always the first one out on the playground crawling over the equipment with the kids.
Although a stroke in 2017 put limits on him, with Rita’s devoted care they continued to enjoy life. They made two trips to Australia and travelled to eastern Canada and to the US in the last six years.
John was a rare man who always had a ready smile and was loved and respected by everyone he met, whether in business or in his personal life, and he will be missed and fondly remembered by many.
He is survived by his wife, Rita Owen; children, Jeff Owen, Lauri (Darryl) Copithorne, Janet Owen and Patricia (Paul) Higgins; grandchildren, Jenelle (Rob), Christine and Michael Owen, Kari and Megan Copithorne, Braden (Tracy) Pendlebury, Tyrel (Kayleen) Devlin, Laura Higgins and Karen (Iain) Macleod, along with great-grandchildren Aiden Cooke, Justus Simmons, Kai, Haylie and Wyatt Saunders, Kaylee Copithorne, Liam and Cole Schlagel and Brynn Macleod; his sister, Dorothy Darbison and numerous nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his parents, brother, Jim Owen and sister, Kay Green.
There will be no funeral as per John’s wishes, but a Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary or Cystic Fibrosis Canada .
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of John please visit www.choicememorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.
April 22, 1931 - March 18, 2023
It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of John Joseph Owen on March 18, 2023 at the age of 91 years, in Calgary, AB. John was born on April 22, 1931 in Windsor, ON; the second son of Leonard C. Owen and Marjorie Gerlach Owen.
John’s early adult life was spent on the road as a travelling insurance adjuster for Wawanesa Mutual, with stints in Flin Flon, MB, Regina, SK and finally, in 1955, to Calgary, where he became a partner in England Insurance.
He married Betty Lou Soden in 1953 and added son, Jeff and daughters, Lauri and Janet to the family. He was remarried in 1979 to Maria (Rita) Heine and gained another daughter, Patricia.
During a career that spanned over 60 years and started in the insurance industry, he added businesses in purebred livestock sales management, livestock insurance and printing, with Rita at his side for many of those years.
John loved to golf and was a member of Earl Grey Golf Club for over 50 years, holding positions on the Board as President, Captain and Director. He was instrumental in bringing the 65 Roses tournament for cystic fibrosis to Earl Grey and was involved with the Vipond, which supports the DDRC. He was active through most of his life in the Calgary Cosmopolitan Club and the insurance industry group Blue Goose International.
Rita and John enjoyed many happy years travelling to holiday homes in Fairmont, BC, Scottsdale, AZ, and in earlier years, family vacations at Lake Windermere with his young children. Business also gave John and Rita the opportunity to visit and enjoy many places in the world. His love of flying led him to obtain a private pilot’s license, and John flew his own planes for many years for pleasure and business travel.
He could always be counted on for a steady hand, sound advice and unconditional love and support for his children. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought him so much joy, and he was always the first one out on the playground crawling over the equipment with the kids.
Although a stroke in 2017 put limits on him, with Rita’s devoted care they continued to enjoy life. They made two trips to Australia and travelled to eastern Canada and to the US in the last six years.
John was a rare man who always had a ready smile and was loved and respected by everyone he met, whether in business or in his personal life, and he will be missed and fondly remembered by many.
He is survived by his wife, Rita Owen; children, Jeff Owen, Lauri (Darryl) Copithorne, Janet Owen and Patricia (Paul) Higgins; grandchildren, Jenelle (Rob), Christine and Michael Owen, Kari and Megan Copithorne, Braden (Tracy) Pendlebury, Tyrel (Kayleen) Devlin, Laura Higgins and Karen (Iain) Macleod, along with great-grandchildren Aiden Cooke, Justus Simmons, Kai, Haylie and Wyatt Saunders, Kaylee Copithorne, Liam and Cole Schlagel and Brynn Macleod; his sister, Dorothy Darbison and numerous nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his parents, brother, Jim Owen and sister, Kay Green.
There will be no funeral as per John’s wishes, but a Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary or Cystic Fibrosis Canada .
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of John please visit www.choicememorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.