Heng, Owen Albert

Owen Albert Heng, 71, died August 14, 2010 at Mid-Michigan Medical Center. He was born December 11, 1938 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Oscar and Amy (White) Heng.

Mr. Heng is survived by his wife of 45 years, Cathy (Lundon), whom he married on July 24, 1965. He also is survived by his children, Melissa Kraus, Michigan City, Ind., Kathleen (EJ) Biallas, Madison, Ind., and Jeffery (Christine) Heng, Denver, Colo.; brothers, Arthur (Joan) Heng, Dean (Nancy) Heng, Duane (Mary Jane) Heng, and Raymond (Maree) Heng; and one sister, Janet (Richard) Holtz. He also is survived by four grandchildren, Sebastian and Nicholas Biallas and Hadley and Amelia Heng.

Owen earned undergraduate degrees and then a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, in 1965. He was awarded a national competition graduate fellowship sponsored by the Instrument Society of America, was awarded a Phillips Petroleum Fellowship and was elected to the Phi Lambda Upsilon honorary chemistry and chemical engineering fraternity.

Owen was employed by Dow Corning Corporation from 1965 to 1999, where he worked in Process Engineering and in Corporate Facilities Engineering. Owen worked for 19 years as a Manufacturing Consultant for the Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation, a subsidiary of Dow Corning Corporation. He was honored by the Northeast Michigan Section of the Instrument Society of America as Engineer of the Year in 1982. Owen received two chemical process patents. He was honored by Dow Corning with promotion to the title of “Scientist”. Owen retired from HSC on December 31, 1999.

Owen was formerly the chairman of the Larkin Township Planning Commission, served on the Larkin Zoning Board of Appeals and was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Midland. He was active in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, was a volunteer for Big Brothers and was a tutor for Central Middle School.

Owen enjoyed deer hunting, traveling, boating and snow skiing. He was restoring a 1930 Model “A” Ford Four-Door Deluxe Sedan.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday, August 20, 2010, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, by Rev. Lyle Kleman. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Burial: Holy Cross Cemetery, Anamosa, Iowa.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider The Dr. Owen A. Heng Chemical and Biological Engineering Scholarship Fund at the Iowa State University Foundation, 2305 University Blvd. Ames, Iowa 50010-2230.

Please sign the online guest book and share a memory about Owen at .