LTC John Vincent Owens

John was born December 15, 1937, in Queens, NY to Agnes and John J. Owens. John moved to Miami and was an altar boy at both Gesu and Corpus Christi Catholic schools and graduated from Archbishop Curley High School. John, an ROTC cadet, graduated from Florida State University with a degree in geology. After graduating from FSU John followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Army. In 1963 John married Suzanne Denmat while stationed in Germany and they had their first child, Maureen. Sean would follow five years later while they were stationed at Ft. Richardson, Alaska.

An Army Ranger, John became a helicopter pilot with the First Calvary Division. He often told his son that he continued training to delay going to Vietnam, but the war lasted longer than his training and he went on to serve two tours as a helicopter pilot. John never talked about his time in Vietnam. The medals and ribbons hanging in a shadowbox on the wall speak more about his experiences than his words ever could.

After Vietnam, John returned to his alma matter and pursuing his love of education and teaching he became the FSU ROTC professor of Military Science. While teaching at FSU John suffered a devastating loss from which he would never truly recover, the loss of his first wife Suzanne. It seemed as though there was nothing that could assuage his grief. Jo Anne, a widow herself, was exactly the force-of-nature John needed to start to live again, whether he wanted to or not. While on an adventure, or being cajoled into one, John could often be heard saying, “Jo Anne would you please stop” or “Jo Anne I really don’t want to.” In spite of his protestations Jo Anne was always able to convince the loving curmudgeon not only to go on the adventure, but to enjoy it. When Jo Anne would tell John, “I love you” his response would always be a feisty, “Good.” A perfect representation of both Jo Anne and John, these were the last words spoken between them.

John died within one week to the day that he lost his first wife, Suzanne, 30 years ago. His ashes will be interred next to hers at Roselawn cemetery in Tallahassee at a later date.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Agnes; his very dear in-laws, Mary and Jack Denmat; his brother-in-law, Edmund “Red” Denmat; and his first wife, Suzanne. John is survived by his wife, Jo Anne Koch Owens; daughter, Maureen Owens; son, Sean Owens (Annette); daughter, Tula Peña (Gumezindo); son, Christopher Koch (Susan); sister-in-law, Betty Denmat; grandchildren: Connor, Sydnie, Ryan, Christopher and Anton; his cousins, Terry Randall (Dorothy), Pat Devany (Jackie), Kathleen Knap, Maureen Sullivan, Donna Jean Murphy (Danny); as well as many friends.

As John loved animals, whether rescuing, adopting, feeding or just watching, the family requests a donation to an animal charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.

--Dr. Suess