Obituary of Vernell A. Owens

Vernell "Vern" Anthony Owens passed away at his home, Sunday, January 5, 2020 with his family by his side. Vern was born July 13, 1928 to the late Elias and Irene (Rose) Owens. Vern was born and raised on the Owens Family Farm southwest of Coleman. He started out working construction for Harvey Upton and then was drafted into the United State Army, and was stationed in Alaska during the Korean War. After Vern was discharged from the army, he went to work for Earl Bennet Construction, and from there he started his own business, Vern Owens Builders. Vern worked up until he was 85 years old. Vern enjoyed watching football with family and hunting in many different places, but his favorite sport of all time was fishing. Not only did Vern enjoy fishing on his own, he loved taking friends and family out to fish all day with him. Vern lived on Sanford Lake for about 40 years and had a fishing pole in his grandbabies and great grandbabies hands as soon as they were able to walk. Vern also enjoyed gatherings with friends and family, and after every party Vern would look at us and say…Now that was a good party! Vern was a wonderful man who loved his family to the fullest. Living to cherish Vernell's memory are his wife, Janette (Gothrup) Owens; brother, John (Pat) Owens; sister-in-law, Cathy (Gary) Stafford; daughter, Sandra (Dick) Sharp; sons, Joseph (Rhonda) Owens, Terry (Jill) Owens), Rick (Virginia) Owens; daughter, Cindy Johnson; 20 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews. The family also wanted to mention his longtime friends Jerry, Jeremy, George, and Dawn. Vernell was preceded in death by his father and mother Elias and Irene (Rose) Owens; his sister, Eleanor Haggart; brother, Russel Owens; sister, Ruthann Morrison; grandsons, Joseph Doyle Owens, Christopher Henry Owens, and Phillip Henry Owens; brothers-in-law, Norman Haggart and Mike Morrison; nephew, Bob Haggart; niece, Rosie Haggart; & nephew, Kevin Berk. A Memorial Service is being planned for June. The family will send out a notice as the service time gets closer. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Memorial Contributions to Heartland Home Health Care & Hospice of Bay City. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com Arrangements made with Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.