Dean Owens
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William Dean Owens, 87, passed away on May 22, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. Born in Topeka, Kansas on July 3, 1931, to Melvina (Cooper) Owens and Claude E. Owens, Dean graduated from the University of Kansas in 1953. He met the love of his life, Doris McConnell, during college and they married on June 10, 1953 in Plymouth Congregational Church. He served in the Marine Corps and then returned to Lawrence where he managed the family lumber business for ten years. With the support of Doris and with three small children, Dean enrolled in Law School at KU. On graduation in 1968, the family moved to Salina, Kansas and he joined Hampton, Royce, Engleman & Nelson, where he practiced law for over 35 years. The best decisions he ever made were to marry Doris, go back to school, to live in Salina and to retire in Lawrence.
Dean and Doris loved to travel. They were able to share London with their grandchildren when each of them turned 16. Although he went to all seven continents, his favorite trip was with his children and daughter-in-law on safari in Tanzania in 2015.
Doris preceded Dean in death. Dean is survived by three children, Steve (Mindy) of Leawood, Susan (Jim) Bloom of Lawrence and Sarah (Thom) Steele of Wichita, six grandchildren, Kaitlin, Ashley, Allison, Whitney, Lindsey and Andrew, and six great-grandchildren, Colby, Camryn, Luke, Rowan, Linley and Lincoln.
Services will be held at Plymouth Congregational Church at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence Public Library Foundation, 707 Vermont Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044 or the Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044 or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
I am so sorry for your loss, I worked as Concierge at Brandon Woods for several years and knew and interacted with Dean on a daily basis, he will be missed by all. God Bless.
On behalf of Jeanne Hawley and her family, our deepest condolences. Dean was a good friend and we remember his many kindnesses..
Hi Steve, Susan and Sarah:
On behalf of the Bong boys, my brothers John (Houston), Jerry (Chicago) and myself (Dallas), please accept our sincere and heartfelt condolences and sympathies. We have fond memories of your Mom and Dad when we were growing up in Lawrence and meeting both of them and all of you at family gatherings w/ the McConnell family. Fond memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Thank you and best wishes to all of you, especially during this sad time. God Bless to all,
James (Jim) Bong, Dallas.
What a wonderful testimony to an incredible man. I never met Dean, but can only imagine what a nice person he was from hearing stories over the years from Mindy and Steve. My thoughts and prayers at this time are conveyed to the family.
Pam Justus
Dear Steve, Susan and Sarah,
Nancy and I were so sorry to learn of your dad’s passing. We had lost recent contact and wondered if he might have been having health problems. We especially enjoyed your parents visits to Santa Fe. We regret that we will not be able to come to his service.
I will miss Dean a great deal. We had become good friends and enjoyed having breakfast together for the past 5 years.
I’m sorry to miss his service but have a previous commitment that can’t be changed.
Dwight Adams
Steve, Sarah and Susan: Toni and I extend our deepest sympathy to you and your families over the passing of Dean. We have many fond memories of the times we spent with Dean and Doris when they resided in Salina. I spent many hours on the tennis courts with Dean and enjoyed it immensely. We are sorry we could not attend the service last Wednesday. A deer got in the way of my car last weekend and totaled it (we’re all OK).