William "Bill" Travis Owen
November 11, 2016
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Service Details
Bill was born in Phoenix AZ on July 22 1947, and was raised in various locations. He graduated from high school with the class of ‘65 in Estherville, IA. In 1966, Bill joined the United States Army Warrant Officer Flight Training School. Upon graduation with class 66-23/67-1, he served in various locations. Bill married Linda Sapp and their son, Jerome was born on March 25, 1970. While in the Army, Bill received several awards including 25 air medals and the DFC. After leaving active military service, Bill was employed as a commercial helicopter pilot. The parent company of this helicopter operation, E.I. Sargent Quarries, was in the mining business. Over time, Bill's interest in mining lead him through all phases of mining operations, ending as a mine manager with Martin Marietta in 1985.
In 1978, Bill married Susan Hague, and to them daughter Rachael was born on November 12, 1978. In 1987 Bill was hired by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration as an accident investigator and health inspector. Bill worked in various locations in this capacity culminating in an appointment as field office supervisor in Ft Dodge, IA. Bill was medically retired in 2010. After retirement he continued his various hobbies; woodworking, splitting wood, and helping friends with just about anything. Bill departed this world after a battle with heart failure.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Heart Foundation.
Survivors include his wife, Susan; son, Jerome (Mary) Owen of Evans, GA.; daughter, Rachael (Joseph) Amodeo of Des Moines, IA; grandchildren, Kassandra Owen, Dominique and Rozalyn Amodeo; his mother, Marie Owen of Estherville, IA; sister, Penny Allen of Cottonwood, AZ; and two nephews, Will and Ed Allen.
A viewing will held be at Harris Funeral Home in Gilmore City, IA on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. On Friday, November 18 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA a visitation from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and memorial service at 12 p.m. will be held. Interment will follow at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, IA at 2:00 p.m.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Rev Michael Smith
11/15/2016
Willy T,
I am so glad that I got to say good by on the phone before you took your final flight! From flight school through Vietnam--you were unique and a very special person, and very loved by all! I will miss you and your presence in my life, though we really didn't get to see each other that much, but each time was special. I know "we all" feel that way. So now, my friend, Fly all over the universe!! You will never be forgotten! God will bless you for eternity. The rest of us will be there shortly--we are all heading that way!
Rick Schoeny
11/15/2016
Willie T,Willit T, WillieT,
, you really always made my day by turning a bad one into something to laugh at and basically saying "DARN" it or maybe a little stronger, its not that bad. you were always putting smiles on everyones face and when I would look in your eyes I knew you or we or all of us were up to something and we would probably get away with it. Going to miss you very much My Friend Godknows he has a good man at his back. Now a perfect Willie T Maneuver would be for you to sit up in the casket during the ceremony and if that happens I'll see ya at the 50th reunion., God I wish that was the case,.
Miss ya Brother and well all be together some day.
Love Ya
Rick & Libbye Schoeny.
Laura Hague
11/15/2016
Many wonderful family memories. Especially the Hague's first year house building party. Moments from that will always be remembered. Bill you will be greatly missed, oh what a party in heaven they are having!! To Susan, Jerome, Rachael and all extended family my deepest sympathies for you. Hold on to those wonderful memories.
Bill Norlin
11/15/2016
I will always regret never having spent as much time with Bill as I would have liked. However, the time I did spend with this wonderful person convinced me that he was my very best friend. Im sure many others share the same sentiments about Bill.
Ive never met anyone so quick to smile or laugh or so unpretentious. Indeed, many of my favorite memories involve Bill, from buzzing the grandstand at the state fair late at night in the Jet Ranger to landing at the quarry in my old yellow airplane and helping him unload explosives from a truck! And then he let me go with him while he detonated the side of a limestone cliff. Talk about fun! Bill was absolutely the greatest adopted big brother a teenager in search of adventure could ever ask for.
Julie and I extend our best wishes to Bills family. We will forever hold them in our embrace as tightly as we hold onto our memories of Bill.