Obit: Owens, Pierce E. (1929 - 2013)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Owens, Kagerah, Reinke, Severson, Winscher, Molitor, Olson, Ohde

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 07 May 2013

Owens, Pierce E. (23 OCT 1929 - 5 MAY 2013)

Pierce E. Owens, Jr., age 83, of Withee, died on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at Miller Alternative Care in Marshfield. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Withee. The Rev. Tom Myhre will officiate. Burial will be held in the Riverside Cemetery, Town of Hixon. A time of visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 8 from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Owen and from 10:00 AM until time of services Thursday at the church.

He was born on October 23, 1929 in Withee, the son of Pierce Sr. and Gertrude (Kagerah) Owens. Pierce graduated from Withee High School and attended the UW Farm Short Course. He farmed with his parents on a farm south of Withee where he was involved with 4H and raised and showed registered Duroe pigs. On September 18, 1954, Pierce was united in marriage to the love of his life, Carol Reinke at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thorp. He took over the family farm, bred and raised registered Holsteins and Brown Swiss cattle. Pierce also showed his prized cattle at many fairs. After a fire, they moved to a farm north of Loyal.

Pierce was president of Clark County Holstein Breeders and received the "Man of the Year" award. He helped several young people get started in farming. Pierce enjoyed attending auctions and talking to everyone he met. He was especially known for wearing his cowboy hat.

Pierce enjoyed traveling, especially taking farm tours to Europe. He also traveled to Hawaii and Australia with friends after selling the farm. They also became snowbirds, residing in Arizona during the winter. Pierce loved to fish and went to Canada every year for 50 years. The DNR of Canada even named a lake after him of which he was very proud. He also loved to play cribbage with his fishing buddies and grandsons.

Pierce is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol, Abbotsford, daughters, June (Richard) Severson, Loyal, Virginia (Steve) Winscher, Mondovi and Lisa (Kevin) Molitor, Colby; his son, Warrant Officer, Mark (Glynis) Owens, Two Rivers; eight grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He is further survived by a sister, Eileen (George) Olson, Bloomer; a son-in-law, Jeff Ohde, Chetek; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Linda Ohde and a daughter in infancy, Brenda.

Online condolences can be made to www.maurinaschilling.com