Owen, Douglas 'Doug'

Douglas “Doug” Owen, 82, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, from complications of Parkinson's disease. A celebration of his life will be held 3 p.m. Tuesday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, with Pastor Jeremy Higgins of Calvary Chapel, Cedar Rapids, officiating. Friends may call one hour before the service.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Muriel (Pech) Owen; his daughter, Susan (Bruce) Buckingham, and his son, Scott (Melinda) Owen, all of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Helen Owen.

Born in Cedar Rapids on May 30, 1931, he attended Arthur grade school and graduated from Franklin High School in January 1951. He attended Iowa State College. Doug served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict, stationed in Germany from October 1951 until November 1953. Following his active service he was an Army reservist from 1953 through November 1959.

After his Army service he worked for the Amana Refrigeration Co., then Allis Chalmers, later retiring from Harnischfeger as a senior design engineer after 30 years of service.

In his leisure time, Doug gave countless hours and years to the Boy Scouts of America, serving as an Explorer Advisor, then Cubmaster and Scoutmaster when his grandsons became interested in the program. He also served as a Cub Scout commissioner and was a member of the Order of the Arrow. He was recognized with the Silver Beaver Award, the highest recognition given for a Scout volunteer's service.

Doug's greatest enjoyment was annual family vacations - camping in the northern areas of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. When at home he spent hours in his workshop. When his wife became interested in quilting, he turned his design skills and fine woodworking abilities to making an improved tilt-top quilt frame which grew into a business he named Quiltwright. The quilt frames were sold and shipped throughout the United States. Doug was a member of the Midwest Tool Collectors Association and enjoyed its meetings and swaps of antique tools.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Calvary Chapel of Cedar Rapids Preschool to honor Doug's memory and his interest and work with children.

Online condolences may be directed to under obituaries.

Published Sept. 16, 2013 in The Gazette