Dave Owens, 88 of Fairbank passed away Tuesday, April 14 at MercyOne Senior Care in Oelwein. He was born April 22, 1931 the son of David and Vera (Terpstra) Owens. Dave grew up in the Colfax area and graduated from the Colfax High School. After High School He enrolled at Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls, he graduated from there with a Degree in Teaching. He continued his education at Drake University where he received his Masters Degree. Dave proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954 during the Korean War. During his service he was a Parachutist as well as an instructor for beginning Parachutists. Dave married Margaret Meckley on March 23, 1951 in Colfax. Dave and Margaret were lifelong educators, spending the vast majority of their careers and lives in the Wapsie Valley Community School District. Dave started at Wapsie Valley as a High School Principal and soon moved up to the Superintendent position which he held for the next 34 years. He was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in Fairbank as well as the Fairbank American Legion. Dave also was the President of the Fairbank Community Club for many years. Dave was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather as well as being a dedicated educator. He is survived by his son Mark (Becky) Owens of Fairbank, two granddaughters; Kara Owens of Atlanta, GA and Gina Owens of Marion. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 67 years, Margaret, his sister Patsy Evans and his brother-in-law Frank Evans and one niece, Katie Darbyshire.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic guidelines restricting gatherings to no more than 10 people there will be a private family graveside service. A Celebration Of Life will be held at a later date at the Fairbank American Legion.
Memorials may be directed to the Fairbank United Methodist Church, the Fairbank, Oran or Readlyn Fire Departments or to the family. Cards may be sent to Mark Owens, 6965 W Ave. Fairbank, Iowa 50629
Condolences for David Keith Owens
Mark, my condolences to you and your family. I’m so sorry about your dad’s passing. He was truly a good man.
So sorry to hear about your dad passing.prayers to you all.
What a wonderful man. I enjoyed his knowledge and insight during our conversations. I truly respected Dave very much. His love and devotion to Margaret in her final years was so amazing. May he rest in peace in the loving arms of Margaret. Our thoughts are with all the family.
Mark, I am very sorry for your loss. Your Dad was a good man, I owe him many thanks for all he did for me personally. Prayers for you and your family.
What a great guy! Our prayers and condolences for family and so many who know and love Dave and will miss him. Such an impact on so many lives. God’s love and peace be yours.
Mark, my condolences to you and your family.
I enjoyed getting a big hug and smile from him every time I saw him. He was such a good caregiver to Margaret. A icon for Wapsie Valley for sure. He will be missed!
My deepest sympathy Mark to you and your family.
Very sorry for your loss Mark and family.
Mr. Owens loved Wapsie Valley schools. To say he was proud of WV students is an understatement. I believe Mr. Owens was a true warrior. He believed in every kid that walked the halls as a Warrior whether it was in Fairbank, Readlyn, or Oran. His motivational speaking was always spot on with a touch of humor. “Wapsie Valley with give opponents every opportunity to win………
And then we’ll beat them!” My condolences to the Owens family. Mr. Owens and his passion for education will truly be remembered by all alumni and staff of Wapsie Valley.
My sincere condolences. I still talk about Mr. Owen’s regularly. For example, how he taught us the fight song in elementary and the famous we them every chance to win… and then we beat them. I still can’t walk across a gym floor… I have to walk in the hallways or the very edges! He was so dedicated to WV and will be greatly missed. Thank you for your service, Mr. Owens
He was a great person. Always making friends where ever he was. My boys loved that he took time to get to know them when we moved to town. Blessed to have worked with him on Community Club on many projects. Keeping your family in our thoughts and prayers.
I was so sorry to hear about your dad….he was a good man. LoE and I had many good visits with him.when he was visiting your mom at Mercy Plus. He was so dedicated to your mom…visited her 2 or 3 times a day…I so admired him for doing that..and enjoyed waiting on him at the grocery store…we always had a good visit..
Thinking of all of you and sending sincerest sympathy.
So sorry to hear of the passing of your father. Always remember him with a smile on your face and love in your heart.
You and your family have my sympathy. He was truly one of a kind, and he will be missed. His big smile was infectious, and he was loved by many!
Mark,our sincere sympathy to you and your family. I have many great memories of your Dad in Wapsie high.
I will miss his smile . He was a great person to everyone. Sending our condolences.
What a wonderful impact he left on so many. May peace fill the hearts of us survivors….
My deepest sympathy to your family..
Mark, so sorry to hear about the passing of your father. Our deepest sympathies to your family.
Mark and family, I am so sorry for your great loss. He was a special man. My prayers for you all. My sympathy, Kara.
Mark, Becky and family please accept my condolences. I have the greatest respect for your father because no one has made a greater impact on Wapsie Valley students and staff than Mr. Owens. I remember him telling parents these are not just students they are also my kids. Many of you do not know the things he did for Wapsie kids and alumni behind the scenes. I will always remember the things he taught me, his sly and sometimes devious smile, and this statement he often quoted, “At Wapsie Valley, We Expect More and We Get It!” Rest in Peace Mr. Wapsie Valley, David K. Owens.
Our sincere sympathy goes to Mark, Becky, Kara, and Gina. Dave and Margaret were wonderful backyard neighbors. Mike and I enjoyed our frequent summertime conversations. May God bless all of you at this sad time.
Mark – my sincere sympathies to you and the family. I truly admired your father. He taught us all the right way to do things. He taught us to respect others as well as to respect ourselves. He loved the Wapsie Valley community and was not afraid to express that fact. A truly great man. He will be missed! He was the first person who I knew who could balance a spinning basketball on his index finger. He did this at a benefit that was held many years ago for Coach Bob Allen’s daughter at the high school.
Mark and family–Our condolences from the entire Whitehill family. Your father was a great educator and true friend to the students in the Wapsie Valley School District. He and Margaret were good friend to our parents, Claude and Wanda, over many years. May God bless you in these trying times.
Our condolences to Mark & his family. Mr. Owens was such a big part of our schools , our community and our kids for so many years. He will be greatly missed.
Always had alot of respect for your father
Thoughts and prayers Mark
Sorry for your loss! Prayers Mark to you and your family!
Prayers and sympathy to the family. He was a great person. Both of my kids had him and liked him very much.
Sorry muff,he is a great guy,always enjoyed visiting with him ,need anything give me a yell
Mark,
So sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. I have fond memories of him, and all of you. I remember when y’all lived in Readlyn before you moved to Fairbank, and him and dad catching a few games of golf. I also remember going over to your house in Fairbank when our folks would play cards.
Will have good memories of him as a friend, and school superintendent.
You and your family will be in out prayers as you are going through this difficult time. Blessings to y’all
So sad to hear about this – So many memories from high school include Mr. Owens in the hallway and at activities. He was firm but kind. He always had a smile and a “hello” to give. He truly was an iconic figure in Wapsie Valley history – a true Warrior through and through. Thoughts and prayers are with your family as you navigate this tough time.
Condolences to the Owens family. Mr. Owens and I shared an interest in music and when I and other students suggested a Swing Show he was ” instrumental” in making that become a Wapsie tradition. Mr. Owens was a fellow trumpeter and I always appreciated his insight. I’ll always remember a song he taught me for pep band. He will always be an integral part of Wapsie Valley history. R.I.P. Mr. Owens.
So many great comments from Dave. Before Christmas Concerts he would sit down at the piano -“ I know 2 songs – 1 is White Christmas and the other one isn’t .” He was a legend in his own time.
My sincere sympathies to the Owen’s family. I truly admired your father. He was a brilliant man and educator, (in fact…. both him and Margaret were). He taught us all the right way to do things. He taught us respect of others, as well as to respect ourselves. He loved the Wapsie Valley community, and they in turn, loved him back.
I just became re-acquainted with him, in the last year, as he was very kind (to my father and his wife), driving them all over town. I also learned recently, he was a Parachutist, as well as an instructor for beginning Parachutists, in the US Army, during the Korean War. A very remarkable man indeed. Both him and Margaret are an incredible loss to the community. Mr. Owen’s missed his wife, more than life itself, and I can only hope wherever they are, they’re together once again! GOD Bless!