Gaylord Owens
December 18, 1922 ~ March 7, 2024
Gaylord Kenneth Owens, 101, of Lisbon, Iowa, was called to his heavenly home on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Visitation: 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon, Iowa. Funeral Services: 11 a.m. on Monday, March 11, 2024, at Uncommon Church (formerly First Federated Church), 115 N Walnut Street, Lisbon. Burial with military honors to follow at Lisbon Cemetery.
Those unable to attend are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Gaylord's Tribute Wall and share your support and memories with his family. Memorials may be directed to the family or charity of the donor's choice.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 79 years, Nola; children, Dean (Linda) Owens of Stephenville, Texas, Jerry (Linda) Owens of Carmichael, California, Melissa Owens of Lisbon, Marilene (Rick) Julich of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, George Owens of Lisbon, and Joe (Carolyn) Owens of Independence, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren with one more on the way.Gaylord was born on December 18, 1922, in Fountain, Minnesota, the son of George and Myra (Fidler) Owens. He graduated from Lisbon High School in 1941. Gaylord served in the US Army during WWII and the occupation of Germany. On March 26, 1945, he married his sweetheart, Nola Robertson.
After the war, he was trained as a Linotype operator and worked for area newspapers. He also worked at Stamats Publishing for 21 years, then started his own printing business, Owens Impressions, which he ran for 10 years.Gaylord was active in the First Federated Church of Lisbon from his early days, and serving as a board member for many years. Because he had six sons, Gaylord became involved with the Christian Service Brigade, a faith-based organization for teenage boys. He was the leader for 20 years.
Both Gaylord and Nola were involved in the Hidden Lake Brigade Camp in Mechanicsville, which was supported by their church. Camp was in session for several weeks every summer and for over 20 years they went to camp every Sunday night for a wiener roast and then Saturday morning to cook and serve pancakes.
For many years, they worked with Love Packages of Butler, Illinois. The organization collects used religious materials to be donated to third world countries. Gaylord and Nola drove around the entire state of Iowa picking up items, then a few times a year they would load their van with the materials and haul them to Illinois for distribution. They also drove the elderly folks of Lisbon to doctors appointments and various errands for over 30 years.
Gaylord was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Bob and Francis; and brothers, Lawrence, Orian, and Harold.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Mount Vernon
Nola and Gaylord were steadfast roots of the Federated Church when I grew up. You never had to wonder where they stood because they’d tell you. Much love and respect for them.
There is no doubt in my mind where Gaylord is now in heaven. Hugs to all his family and friends. Over his 101+ years he impacted thousands of lives. Rest easy Gaylord, your work on Earth is done.
Gaylord and I worked together for many years at the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun, along with his wife Nola and daughter Melissa Owens.
He was one of the kindest, most honest, and deeply dedicated men I’ll ever have the pleasure to meet, devoted to his faith, family and his job, where he was a perfectionist at getting our weekly newspaper filled with inserts, bundled, organized and delivered by truck to many newsstands in eastern IA. We worked side by side in the basement of the shop, sharing life stories, philosophies, jokes and just plain respect for each other. It was an incredible honor and privilege to consider myself a good friend of Gaylord’s, a rare man the likes of whom will not pass this way again soon. May you truly rest eternally in peace, my friend, and may your entire family have countless fond memories of a life so well-lived.
Abbi Swanson
Nola and Family, I remember Gaylord and Nola very well from the days I was running the Sun newspaper in Mount Vernon. Such a nice man! My sympathy to you all. Sara Gaarde
Rest in peace.
In Loving Memory. We will miss you always.
Even though I never met Gaylord, my thoughts are with him and all of his wonderful family. I was blessed to meet Sweet Nola and a few of their kids not that long ago. Hugs to all of you. –Nurse Edie–
I was very sorry to read about Gaylord’s death. I always looked forward to seeing him whenever I came back to Lisbon, either at the Federated Church or somewhere in town. I will miss that. He was always a rock of the community and will be missed by all.
Mr. Owen’s, was a very loving and devoted to his family.