Keith G. Owens

Carroll — Keith G. Owens, 88, Carroll, died Nov. 18, 2020, at Kinship Pointe, Wayne.

Private family visitation was held, followed by a Family Christian service and burial, with military rites, at Bethany Cemetery, Carroll. Rev. Teresa Bartlett officiated.

Pallbearers were Keith’s grandchildren Eric Wacker, Jason Wacker, Alexis Weyhrich, Bryce Owens, Logan Owens and Stephanie Henn.

Arrangements were under the direction of Hasemann Funeral Home, Wayne.

Keith George Owens was born in Wayne July 16, 1932, to George and Helen (Hall) Owens. He was raised on the family farm northwest of Carroll, where he lived until moving to Wayne in 2018. He graduated from Carroll High School in 1949 and attended Wayne State College. Keith and JoAnn (Truby) Owens were married Nov. 30, 1952, at the Laurel Presbyterian Church. Keith served two years in the United States Army in Vienna, Austria.

Keith was a member of Bethany Presbyterian Church, serving on numerous boards, and the Bethany Cemetery Board for many years. He was a charter member of Blue Ribbon 4-H Club, Carroll Volunteer Fire Department Board, the Nebraska Livestock Feeders Association, and Carroll American Legion Post #165.

He bowled with the same bowling team, John Deere-Randolph, for 30 years and on a mixed league with JoAnn in Randolph. Keith and JoAnn enjoyed dancing and belonged to Town Twirlers Square Dance Club. Keith loved to read and reminisce about past and present farm life, time spent in Austria during his service, and friends and family. Traveling was a highlight of Keith’s life with numerous family vacations, including trips to Alaska and Austria, where he made many friendships.

Keith was proud of his children’s and their families’ accomplishments. He was eager to say, “I’m a farmer,” referring to farming the land and raising cattle and hogs. Farming with his sons was a highlight of his life, proud of their accomplishments together and of his sons’ accomplishments as farmers on their own. Every season of planting, irrigating, and harvesting brought numerous inquiries and phones calls of his children and families asking how everything was going. Keith and JoAnn were the third Owens generation living on the same farm for 100 years, receiving the Aksarben Pioneer Farm Award in 2010.

Keith is survived by children, Cinda (Tim) Wacker, Lincoln; Randy (Lori) Owens, Carroll; and Greg (Wendy) Owens, Wayne; six grandchildren, Eric Wacker, Jason (Lydia) Wacker, Bryce (Nicole) Owens, Stephanie Owens (Josh) Henn, Logan (Kirsten) Owens and Alexis Owens (Chris) Weyhrich; and ten great-grandchildren, Brittneay Murphy, Brooklynn Wacker, Emerleigh Wacker, Hudson Wacker, Everett Brodhagen, Avery Owens, Maveryk Henn, Gabrielle Henn, Ashton Owens and Landon Owens; four nieces, one nephew, and families, and numerous cousins and families.

Keith was preceded in death by wife, JoAnn; parents, George and Helen Owens; brother and sister-in-law, Dean and Eleanor Owens; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jesse and Marian Truby.

Memorials may be directed to the Carroll American Legion, Carroll Volunteer Fire and Rescue, and Winside Rescue.