Robert Rhodes Owen (87) of St. Elmo

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Published on September 27 2016 8:07 am

Robert Rhodes Owen, age 87, of St. Elmo, Illinois passed away at 9:40 p. m. Sunday, September 18, 2016 at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident on August 31st near Brownstown.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 30 at C & A Pagel Funeral Home in St. Elmo, with a two-hour visitation prior to service. Pastor Dan Laack will be officiating. Burial will be at McInturff Cemetery in rural Hagarstown, Illinois. Memorials can be made to the Frist United Methodist Church in St. Elmo, Illinois.

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Robert was born on September 30, 1928 in St. Elmo, Illinois, the 5th child of Frank and Mary (Rhodes) Owen. Robert graduated from St. Elmo High School in 1947. In 1948, he joined the US Army. His basic training was at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, then he served overseas including Korea, Okinawa and the Army Occupation of Japan. After his service in the army, he worked for McDonnell-Douglas for 37 years and retired as a supervisor in 1990. He met Joanne Elmore from Altamont, Illinois in 1953. They were married in May of 1954 at the Frist United Methodist Church in St. Elmo, Illinois. The bride’s father, Rev. Virgil Elmore officiated the wedding service. Robert loved taking pictures, gardening, playing the piano and spending time with friends and his grandchildren.

Robert is survived by his wife, Joanne Owen of St. Elmo, Illinois; son, Brian Owen (wife Brenda) of Collinsville, IL.; two sisters, Catherine McCaskey of Blue Springs, MO. and Marybelle McLean of St. Louis, MO.; four granddaughters, Marcy Vetrone (husband Jason) of Collinsville, Gessica Handegan (husband Brandon) of Collinsville, Casey Massey (husband Clint) of Troy, IL., and Brittany Mersinger (husband Todd) of Collinsville, IL.; two great grandchildren, Haleigh Mersinger and Collin Massey.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary Owen; one brother, Joe Owen; three sisters, Pauline Stokes, Louise Adams and Erma Kennedy.