Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 14, from Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson for Owen F Lawson, 65, longtime Jefferson resident.

The Rev Ray Smith, pastor of Central Christian Church, and Pastor David Schroeder of Abundant Life Ministries, both in Jefferson, officiated. Marilynn Hoskinson was soloist, with Joyce Kinsman as organist.

Honorary casket bearers were Joe Daubendiek, George Mentzer, Ray Costello, David Baugh, Phil Phillips, Oliver Murphy, Dennis Baker and Doug Gunion. Casket bearers were Michael Louk, Dennis Blum, Lewis Laub, Fred Robbins, Dean Imler and Bob Rice. Interment was in Jefferson Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Floyd W Brown Post No. 11 of the American Legion in Jefferson.

Owen Frederick Lawson, son of Abner and Elma Wright Lawson, was born Nov. 28, 1923, in Jefferson. He died Jan. 11, 1989, at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson.

Owen attended school in Jefferson and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1942. He worked in Alaska until he entered the Army in 1943. Owen served overseas in New Guinea and the Philippines. After his discharge from the service in 1946 he returned to Jefferson where he started his business, Jefferson Cement Products, later known as Mid Iowa Concrete.

On Jan. 26, 1949, he was united in marriage with Catherine Elizabeth Smith. They were the parents of four daughters, Pam, Debbie, Cindy and Marilyn. Catherine died in 1972.

Owen married Phyllis Smith Dierenfeld on May 25, 1975. He became father to Gene, Russell and Rick Dierenfeldt.

Owen retired due to failing health in 1982 and in May of 1988 entered the Long Term Care unit of Greene County Medical Center.

He was a member of Floyd W Brown American Legion Post No. 11, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9599, Disabled American Veterans, the 5th Convalescent Hospital Unit, and had been a former member of the B.P.O.E. Elks No. 2306.

Owen was preceded in death by his parents,

his first wife Catherine,

one brother in infancy and

his brother Bill in 1986.

He is survived by his wife Phyllis;

four daughters,

Pam Nystrom and her husband Marck of Boone,

Debbie Knox and her husband Brian of Huntington Beach, CA,

Cindy Wise and her husband Daniel of Jefferson and

Marilyn Quirk and her husband Randall of Gower, MO;

three step-sons,

Gene Dierenfeldt of Albany, MO,

Russell Dierenfeldt and his wife Shelley of Puyallup, WA, and

Rick Dierenfeldt and his wife Jane of Martinsville, MO,

17 grandchildren;

two sisters,

Lois Miller and her husband George of Roland and

Dorothy Plum and her husband Roy of Santee, CA;

two aunts,

Anna Lawson of Jefferson and

Eva Gephart of Des Moines;

and one uncle,

Fred Lawson of Brownsville, TX